Veteran Panther still in the Hunt

His record suggests otherwise.

With two premierships, a Did Simpson Medal and arguably the biggest individual honour in football — a club best and fairest award in a premiership year — next to his name, few can match Hunt’s list of personal achievements.

That group gets even smaller today when Hunt becomes just the 18th player in Ovens and Murray history to play 300 games.

When you join the elitist of the elite football groups at just 33, there’s got to be some form of secret to your prolonged success, right?

Well, being a superstar talent isn’t one of them, apparently.

“The position I play, I don’t have to be a superstar,” Hunt said this week.

“I’ve never had to be.

“You just need to know your role each week and play it.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have some good coaches along the way who have been patient with me at times.

“You can’t always play brilliant every game.

“But my role hasn’t changed the entire time I’ve been here, which has helped me grow into it.”

Hunt’s role might not have changed since he made his debut under Bruce Stewart in 1997 but a hell of a lot else has.

He’s played under three different coaches, a fair effort considering Tim Sanson was in charge for 14 of Hunt’s 17 seasons, and represented Lavington across three different decades, wearing three different jumpers and as both a Blue and Panther.

Kade Stevens is the only current Panther that gets even close to matching that record.

But one change has been more noticeable than all the others, Hunt says.

“The game has definitely got quicker,” he said.

“It was a lot more physical and in close when I first started but it’s opened up a lot more now.

“Midfielders back then were bigger but now they are big and quick.

“The game is based a lot more on running and speed.”

Not that it’s a problem for Hunt.

That’s his go.

“That’s what I’ve based my game around all these years,” he said.

“Speed.”

Ironically, though, that part of the game could end up Hunt’s undoing.

He is the first to admit retirement might just be around the corner as the game slowly catches up to him.

Father time waits for no one, not even someone like Hunt for whom injuries have been few and far between.

“The game’s getting quicker but I’m definitely getting slower,” Hunt said with a laugh.

“I’ve been quite lucky in terms of injury and I’d like to say I’ll get one more year under the belt but it all depends on how I feel towards the end of the season.

“I’ve got three young kids now and their demands are increasing.

“It’s not really up to me, anyway.

“The coaching staff might say my time is up.”

If that happens, as hard as that is to believe, Hunt will have 17 memorable seasons to look back on.

But 2001 will be remembered as his best.

He won his first premiership and was judged the best player on the ground that day, before going on to tie for Lavington’s best and fairest award with Peter Doherty.

Hunt’s loath to compare then with now but is more than happy with where the Panthers are heading, starting with today’s blockbuster against Yarrawonga.

“The place is quite enjoyable to be around right now,” Hunt said.

“Obviously last year was James (Saker’s) first as coach and I guess we’ve finished the feeling out process.

“We’ve grown into his expectations and a lot of the younger guys are starting to step up.

“We’re really looking forward to this week.

“It’s going to be a big challenge,” he said.