AFL boss makes embarassing blunder

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has made an embarrassing blunder at the farewell from AFL media conference for Gold Coast’s Karmichael Hunt after mistakenly believing his live video message was being pre-recorded.

Video shows McLachlan start to deliver a message to Hunt via a live feed into the press conference room.

But halfway through his speech, the AFL boss trails off and begins looking at someone apparently standing beside him.

As the audience giggles in confusion, McLachlan appears to discuss with the unidentified stranger what he should be saying to farewell Hunt, who is reportedly poised to be unveiled by Super Rugby's Queensland Reds at their gala dinner in Brisbane on Friday night.

At one point, McLachlan says, “so you don’t think I’ve got to say other things?”

After the interlude, McLachlan looks back into the camera and says “Oh my god” before restarting the message as if it were a pre-record.

Media and officials in attendance at the conference on the Gold Coast can be heard laughing at the blunder.

At the conference, Hunt confirmed he had played his last game in the AFL, ruling himself out of contention for a farewell game on Sunday with the Suns.

The announcement brings down the curtains on his four-year, 44-game AFL career after the cross-code superstar conceded his body could no longer cope with the demands of the sport.

Hunt has played just one game in 2014, battling injury and illness throughout.

The 27-year-old was in contention to line up for the Suns one last time against West Coast on Sunday but told coach Guy McKenna to give his spot to one of his young teammates instead.

"I just wanted to make it clear to him that I'd rather not put my hand up for selection," Hunt said.

"My time here has come to an end and I know where I'm going to go next year and I'd prefer the opportunity, or the spot in the team, if it was going to be mine, to go to another boy to impress."

Hunt says he leaves the AFL happy with his achievements in the game and, if he'd been physically able, his wish would have been to stay in the code.

Hunt wouldn't discuss his future on Thursday but said he had no concerns his body would be an issue at his new home.

"Genetics suggest I should be playing another code," Hunt said.

"I'm confident I'm definitely not going to a game where I'm going to have to run about 12 kilometres every Saturday."

Hunt said he'd come to the AFL aware of the gamble he'd made in his career and had worked hard to earn his teammates' respect.

McKenna said no one at the club had done more to show the Suns' young core of players what it took to be a professional athlete.

"K clearly leaves with a lot of respect," McKenna said.

"He's been enormous for us."