Rugged Brisbane Lions forward Johnathan Brown believes Karmichael Hunt faces a battle to make a quick switch from being a top rugby league player to an AFL star.

Speaking on the Nine Network on Wednesday night, Brown said 22-year-old Hunt was more likely to "fail then succeed" after his shock decision to switch codes.

While Brown said players from other codes such as basketball and Gaelic Football had made the transition to AFL in the past, he said Hunt may find some aspects of the game difficult to adjust to at first.

"He's probably got more chance of failing then succeeding in fairness to him," said Brown, regarding the toughest defensive assignment in the AFL.

"The hardest thing is the midfielders or guys his size who are running 15 to 16 kilometres a game, so he's going to have to get a lot fitter.

"He'll handle the handballing and the kicking skills alright.

"The awareness of all the bodies being around him and not just in front of him will be the hardest to get used to."

Former rugby league great Wally Lewis turned media identity said Hunt's decision was further proof that loyalty to not just a club, but now a sport was gone.

If Hunt lands a short-term contract with an overseas rugby union club before joining the Gold Coast Football Club next May, he could have pulled a wage from three different codes in 12 months.

"Karmichael is a terrific footballer and he is entitled to grab the cash," said Lewis told the Nine Network.

"But draining it from two different sports in one year (is) maybe a bit much."

Hunt appeared annoyed when asked if his three-year AFL deal would nett him $1 million a year.

"I'm not going into that," he said.

"It wasn't about dollar figures it was about a new challenge and what greater challenge than swapping from rugby league to AFL.

"I've always wanted to be a pioneer and to get the opportunity to do it at 22, I'm looking forward to it.

Gold Coast Football Club chief executive Travis Auld said the AFL was involved in Hunt's deal.

"The AFL got involved because they saw an opportunity to help promote the game in Queensland," Auld said.

"There's no doubt Karmichael will bring a lot of eyes to the game of AFL in Queensland and help increase participation and interest in our game.

"AFL Queensland have an arrangement where Karmichael will promote AFL in our region.

"It's a separate contract with him and I'm not privy to the details of that contract.

"But I suspect it was secondary in his decision to come and play football for the Gold Coast Football Club."

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