Rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt had mixed success in his Australian Rules debut on Saturday, starting with two of the quickest goals for a first gamer and ending on the bench with cramps.

The 24-year-old former league star lined up for the Gold Coast, playing his maiden match in the VFL against the Coburg Tigers at Craigieburn.

He was slotted in at full-forward and within minutes of the start of the game had kicked two goals - the second coming as a complete surprise as he is yet to learn all the rules of the game.

Hunt's first kick as an AFL player came from a free he was awarded about 40 metres out from goal but his kick went out on the full.

But he then booted a major after accepting a hand pass and running into an open goal. As he did so, he was awarded a free kick for a push in the back and took a second shot from point blank range.

Hunt, who played on Richmond rookie David Gourdis, admitted later he did not know about the push in the back rule.

"I felt a push in the back but I didn't know I was going to get a free kick," Hunt said.

From then on though he took virtually no part in general play and was rarely involved in tackles or contested marks.

He finished the game with five possessions and was benched in the third term as a trainer worked intensively on his thighs.

Hunt denied he was suffering any injuries and both he and Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said he had cramped from so much running.

"I'm not injured, I just cramped up but my first run with the boys out there was fantastic," Hunt said.

"I enjoyed it, it was a great experience and I can put that in the bag now and move forward and continue to develop my game.

"I wanted to play as long as I could but my body just wouldn't go with me. I normally cramp when I was playing league and rugby union but obviously there's a lot more running in AFL and towards the end of that third quarter I just locked up and couldn't do much more so I was no use to the team out there."

A year after he signed a multi-million dollar deal to switch to AFL, Hunt said it was "definitely a relief" to finally play.

However he said he felt lost out on the ground at times.

"In terms of structure and that I struggled a bit, knowing where to be and what to do at times but overall I thought I wasn't going too bad out there," he said.

Hunt said he felt he would be able to overcome his cramping issues with salt tablets and "getting used to the running load".

McKenna said he was "rapt" in Hunt's performance.

"I thought he handled himself very well, with all the media, the training, his journey to ultimately play his first game," McKenna said.

"We knew that his body at some stage was going to blow up and to get him to three-quarter time I think was a real bonus for us."

McKenna said that after Gold Coast's bye next week Hunt would return to play in the VFL but would spend time in the backline and midfield.

About 5000 people watched the match which Coburg won easily 17.21 (123) to 11.10 (76).

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