The longer Ablett waits, the greater discontent becomes
Roar Pro
By Justin Rodski, 17 Mar 2010 Justin Rodski is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, Gary Ablett, Geelong Cats
Gary Ablett of Geelong breaks the tackle of Brent Stanton of Essendon during the AFL Round 10 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Geelong Cats at the Docklands Stadium. GSP Images
Gary Ablett’s contract is threatening to completely derail Geelong’s premiership defence. Make no mistake, this story will dominate the headlines every week until a decision is made: will he stay or will he go?
The rumour mills will be in overdrive as every media outlet endeavours to break the story before Ablett breaks his silence.
For a club that has in recent years done everything possible to try and fly under the media radar, this constant speculation surrounding its star player could have a negative impact on the team and it’s on field performance.
I’m not debating whether he’ll leave, but more the significance of how the uncertainty surrounding his future has the potential to hurt Geelong – whether he stays or not!
Ablett’s manager Liam Pickering has given little away and is understandably keeping his cards close to his chest.
The only whisper is a decision will be made by the middle of the year. If he does choose to stay at Geelong a mid-season announcement of course wont be a problem, but what happens if he decides to go?
Out of respect to his team-mates in the midst of their premiership defence I very much doubt he would announce mid-season he’s going to the Gold Coast. Unlike in rugby league, this is simply not common practice in the AFL and would be frowned upon.
Thus leaving Ablett with no choice but to delay any public announcement, and in effect shine an even greater media spotlight on the issue.
The cruel irony and harsh reality for Ablett is no matter what decision he makes, his contract may inadvertently end up being the clubs downfall in 2010.
He has the lure of the reported 1.9 million offer, his dad lives on the Gold Coast, he would probably be named captain and his brother Nathan has resurrected his career and began training with the new team.
All these incentives make it hard to begrudge him if he chooses to move North.
Interestingly coach Mark Thompson has for the first time publicly pleaded with Ablett to reject the Gold Coast and stay a Cat.
Speaking at the clubs season launch, Thompson remarked to the Geelong faithful “seven hundred people in this room heard Gary Ablett say the only reason he plays is to play in a premiership.
“So Gary, you’d be more of a chance (to win one at Geelong) than at the other mob that are offering all that money.”
A nice subtle reminder to his star player that football isn’t all about money and the club is keen to swiftly resolve the issue and avoid the avalanche of speculation coming the Cats way.
President Frank Costa added to the guilt trip spruiking Geelong’s culture
“That’s what makes this club such a great place, such a wonderful place to play footy and be part of the whole Geelong family.”
If he remains at Geelong he will be praised for his loyalty but questions about third party payments will be rife.
If he goes to the Gold Coast, he’ll set himself up for life and be reunited with his family but he’ll also be accused of selling out for money and deserting the place that made him the star player he is today.
Not to mention the unenviable position he finds himself in having to determine the best timing of going public with his decision.
And not forgetting the domino effect and pressure this puts on the Cats salary cap and the clubs ability to secure other players beyond 2010, the most notable is young star and future captain Joel Selwood.
The club is helpless to sign any other player until the Ablett deal is signed off, just imagine the outcry from Cats supporters if they lose Ablett and Selwood in one year!
There’s no doubt this is a classic catch 22 situation, but the longer Ablett waits, the larger discontent will become.
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mick said | March 17th 2010 @ 3:53am | Report comment
Bit dramatic to suggest “completely derail” mate. You think the rest of the team are laying awake at night worrying whether he’ll stay? Or in the heat of a game they’ll avoid giving him the ball? Rubbish. More of a headache for club (marketing esp) officials, coaches and supporters/members if you ask me.
justin Rodski said | March 17th 2010 @ 6:58am | Report comment
Mick, I hear what your saying but I’m not trying to over dramatise it at all, the Cats will be genuinely worried the Ablett issue will become so big it will effect the players.
Every press conference and post match interview will be dominated by questions about Ablett, the players will be constantly having to toe the line “we cant control that, we’re just concentrating on playing footy” discontent creeps in, players start talking about how tired and frustrated they are with it all, stranger things have happened and lesser things have caused a club to implode.
Maybe they wont be lying awake in bed worrying about it, but they’ll certainly sleep better if Gary remains loyal to the club and announces it sooner rather than later!
BigAl said | March 17th 2010 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
. . . could turn out to be a real test of the other players commitment & professionalism ?
Wayno said | March 17th 2010 @ 9:02am | Report comment
I’m sure it’s just a matter of tidying up the disclosed and undisclosed third party payments to make sure they cant be traced back to the club or found to be nefarious. Once that’s sorted no doubt Gaz will will sign on the dotted line. Pickering knows that a little bit of delay and the associated media frenzy does wonders for the value of his best brand. This guy is pure gold in Victoria and a move to the GC would just do too much damage to his marketability .
Then again, stranger things have happened.
BigAl said | March 17th 2010 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Great player that he is, I think GC would be better off spending the huge amounts being spoken of on player(s) with a bit of personality i.e. marketable – very important for a startup team in a new AFL market .
In true Ablett tradition Gary jnr. is not that !
Dogz R Barkn said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
That’s a bit tough!
Didn’t he wear a kilt to a premiership do a few years back?
How’s that for personality!!?
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
I dont think Geelong fans care about his personality, neither would GC. He’s a gun on field and a clean skin off it.
BigAl said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
I would agree he is tailor made for Geelong – a country boy in an AFL mad country town . . . no offense intended!
GC will require more !
And Dogz, re. the kilt bit – that would be easy to do, carrying off the episode with ‘flair’ is another.
Sam Newman would be able to do it ! . . . – did I just say that ?????
Redb said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
I understand where your coming from but getting top line players is more important and a good off field record is a big positive when trying to win over a new market.
Such is the bandwagon support nature of sport these days, winning is critical.
AndyRoo said | March 17th 2010 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
They have K Hunt and the life saver mascott for personality and media stunts.
Ablett brings bucket loads of credibility and even AFL ignorant people like myself can enjoy watching him play.
Ben said | March 17th 2010 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
“Out of respect to his team-mates in the midst of their premiership defence I very much doubt he would announce mid-season he’s going to the Gold Coast. Unlike in rugby league, this is simply not common practice in the AFL and would be frowned upon. ”
If he does decide to go to GC then he’d be better served breaking the norm and doing something which you say is ‘frowned upon’ yet it would be doing the best thing for his team… and that’s going public about it. This point is crucial to your argument.
ozzzie said | March 17th 2010 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
it seems like that geelong will either be losing ablett or selwood, because im sure gold coast will offer selwood 1.5million if ablett chooses to stay. it is inevitable that geelong will lose one of them as having argubly the two most valuable assets in the afl at the one club is unsustainable in terms on salary cap constraints.