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Earlier this year Gary Ablett published an article in the Sunday Herald Sun suggesting in no uncertain terms that he will make his decision on the club of his choice when he is ready.
Geelong Coach Mark Thompson was brutally honest on radio station SEN 1116, with frustrations evident on the delay of the decision.
Two days ago, Hall of Fame member, Wayne Carey, said that according to his sources the Cats superstar will leave the club.
Yet he questioned the validity of his source immediately after. Gazza’s on the move, but when is it going to become official?
Gary Ablett is dictating terms in his contract negotiations with Geelong and the Gold Coast.
The 26-year old has achieved what every footballer sets out to achieve at the beginning of their career: a Premiership and a Brownlow medal, along with three All- Australian selections.
In Ablett’s article he stated, “I love the Geelong Football Club and always have”.
If Ablett loved the club as much as he says he does, the amount of money Gold Coast is offering should be irrelevant. He would stay at the Cats, for the love of it.
There is no doubt that the Geelong football club and more importantly coach Mark Thompson are frustrated that Gary has delayed the decision on what club he will call home next season.
In a candid interview on SEN 1116 a month ago, Thompson said he can’t understand the battle Gary will be faced if Gold Coast offer him big dollars to join the club and hopes that if he stays at Geelong that it’s for all the right reasons.
“A lot of our players have stayed for the right reasons. They love playing together, they love playing for Geelong, they love playing footy together, that’s me to, it’s what I love about team sports and it’s just the way I feel.”
Thompson continued to say that: “Gary just has to make a decision, we would like it sooner but it’s not going to happen so we forget about it and get on with business”.
Evidently in the radio interview, Thompson wants a decision but if Ablett decides to move up to the sunshine coast, I have no doubt that the Cats will be able to continue to achieve success in the absence of Gary Ablett.
Geelong is a team of superstars.
Over the past three years, they have dominated the competition and despite suggestions that they were going to drop off this year, they are sitting a game clear on top of the ladder.
We all know the calibre of players within the Geelong outfit, but by all reports, the young draftees Daniel Menzel and Mitch Duncan are doing well in the VFL, according to Coach Dale Amos.
“We’ve been impressed with the attitude the players are starting to take and the way they’re playing the game is looking more Geelong-like.”
They are both in the mould of a Gary Ablett, playing through the midfield and heading down into the forward line to sneak a couple of goals.
Along with mature age recruit James Podsiadly, Geelong is in good hands and won’t greatly miss Gary Ablett as most seem to think so.
Geelong is certainly well equipped to maintain their good form. It would be a different story at Carlton, if Chris Judd left the club, the void would be much greater to fill.
One player is not bigger than any club.
The Football club doesn’t owe any individual player anything. Football clubs provide players with the opportunity to make it into the big time.
Gary Ablett is a servant of the Geelong Football club and should remain loyal at the club despite the multimillion dollar offer from the Gold Coast franchise.
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