Gary Ablett of the Gold Coast Suns addresses the media during a press conference at Crown Casino in Melbourne. Slattery Images
It’s finally been confirmed. Gary Ablett has left Geelong and joined the Gold Coast Suns, becoming the highest paid player in the AFL. A press conference in Melbourne today made it official.
He’s reportedly been signed to a five-year deal worth close to $10 million, although the Suns did not disclose details of the contract.
Ablett said at the announcement it was an “incredibly difficult” decision to make and that the challenge of being part of a new club was a major factor for him, as well as the money on offer.
“I don’t shy away from the fact the money is attractive,” Ablett conceded.
While the financial side of things might shock some, there’s no doubting Ablett is practically the perfect choice for the Suns, who will now enter the AFL with one of the marquee players of the competition.
Ablett, a Brownlow winner and two-time best and fairest, played a huge role in Geelong’s period of dominance that involved two premierships.
He knows how to find the ball and is a proven match-winner, two qualities that will certainly help a young side like Gold Coast in their early years. Plus, by booting 44 goals for the Cats this season, Ablett has shown the ability to still influence games when up forward – something that will come in handy as the years progress and his body needs more of a rest.
Unquestionably, though, Ablett is one of the biggest names in the competition. For the Suns, a young club yet to play an AFL game and still building their brand and reputation, his addition provides an enormous boost.
For Geelong, meanwhile, the move is yet another blow.
Today’s announcement comes just one day after the news coach Mark Thompson may leave the club, with his future to be decided within days.
After a disappointing preliminary final exit this season, many are saying the team’s successful era is over. That claim seems a lot more credible without Ablett at the club.
There will be a lot of angry Cats fans today and, to an extent, that’s fair enough. But to Ablett’s credit, he did give supporters a lot of joy in his time at the club and the question has to be asked if there’s anything more he can do there that he hasn’t already done.
For Ablett personally, while his credentials as a footballer are strong, this is still a huge challenge.
He’ll no longer have a swag of quality midfielders around him like he had at the Cats. He’ll no longer be in one of the competition’s best teams. He’ll also have to step into the media spotlight more and is likely to be given the role of captain.
It will be interesting to see how he adapts.
On the day Gold Coast were awarded an AFL license, football director Graeme Downie boldly declared Ablett was the club’s main recruiting target. This was followed up by Ablett being spotted meeting with Gold Coast officials on the Glitter Strip in December of last year.
From that point on, it was the hottest story in footy. Practically everything, from his relationship status to his father’s living arrangements, was used as evidence in answering the question of the year, “Will he or won’t he?”
Now, finally, the saga can be brought to an end.
Gold Coast have their man. Gary Ablett is now a Sun.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Bringing the game into disrepute...priceless. Finally, realises taking all those Swisse tablets didn't help :)
Kurt
Roar Pro
that's actually pretty funny!
Westcoast929406
Guest
Gary Ablett in the money and so will be the Suns it appears. The Gold Coast Mayor quite confident about the Suns profile getting a lift and the game in general. However the Suns are another mid to long term AFL project. One thing is for sure he will bring extra fans through the gates up there. Link-- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/gary-abletts-nice-little-earner/story-e6frf9jf-1225931940889
beaver fever
Guest
I would sort of agree, Rocca was gonski, as was the Melbourne forward Bennett, but Ben Graham was still playing, but i think had simply had enough. Matt Mcbriar, Chris Brian and a couple of others were really only amateur footballers who were never going to crack the AFL, or had attempted to do that. Think Nathan Chapman ( Brisbane Lions)had a NFL stint as well, and currently runs prokick, which helps aussies crack the NFL market.
Andyroo
Guest
I give him a lot of credit for saying money was a big factor but not the only factor. I won't be in Brisbane for the next AFL season but if I was i would definitely try and catch one Gold Coast game. Edit: And that's coming from someone who won't bother watching the grand final this Saturday.
Mister Football
Guest
Jay it's not entirely new - but over the last two decades, it hasn't been all that common (big names switching clubs - although there were a fair few this season). I think there are two factors at play here: 1. the Ablett name; and 2. the fact that a Johnny-come-lately has got their man using AFL money.
Black Diamonds
Guest
There wasn't "better money" on offer in the NFL for AFL players, the players who have ended up punting in the NFL were finished at AFL level.
Jay
Guest
I dont understand what the huge fall out is. Im a leaguie, this happens alot in the NRL and if you think about it, you can't begrudge someone for setting themselves up financially. Out of curosity - was there a similar fallout when AFL players got to the NFL for better money? What I do find strange is how this Ablett joining the Suns is apparently more disloyal than Luke Ball joining Collingwood... the latter to me is a lot worse...
The Special One
Guest
Ablett anger should be pointed at AFL http://au.sports.yahoo.com/afl/news/article/-/8037428/ablett-anger-pointed-afl
Jason Cave
Guest
Noticed with interest that Richmond plays the Gold Coast Suns in its first match at AFL level. Richmond does have a history of being the opposition when a new team plays its first game in the AFL: in 1987 Richmond played against the West Coast Eagles in the Eagles first AFL game at Subiaco and lost; in 1995 Richmond played host to new club the Fremantle Dockers at the MCG and only won by 5 points. So what will happen when the Tigers plays the Gold Coast at Carrara in Round 2 of the 2011 season?
JF
Guest
Make sure you also meet Warwick Capper at the game, TV does not do him justice, you will gain a greater appreciation of how complex he actually is.
Mister Football
Guest
I was half-joking. In terms of marketing value, Hunt might have a fair argument for being short changed.
Mike
Guest
Definitely go to a game in person. The TV experience doesn't do Aussie Rules justice. Far more exciting to watch than Union in its current state, and you'll probably gain a greater appreciation of how complex the game actually is.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Oh! Ablett, ofcourse. Surprised you did not work that one out. Its like giving Hunt $10 million a year to play for Real Madrid. Ronaldo would not be impressed :)
Mister Football
Guest
NF the unpalatable truth (for the game's administrators) is that they are a couple of injuries away from a run of shellackings. The jury is still out on Hunt big time - he started to show a bit in his last couple of games at VFL level (and by that stage, he was absolutely spent from playing 18+ months continuously of League/Union/Rules) - but it's going to be a big jump for him, and it could well mean that he needs another year under his belt, and another pre-season, to be a contributor.
AGO74
Guest
sorr Jason Akermanis - not Michael Voss.
AGO74
Guest
I would speculate he is going to get a lot les attention - off the field at least. Don't really know that much about the guy but that may have also influenced his decision being able to get out of the fishbowl of Geelong. I don't think it'd be unreasonable to state that guys like Michael Voss or Barry Hall got much more attention from media and general public in Melbourne than they did in Brisbane or Sydney respectively.
Neutral Fan
Guest
Looking forward to seeing the Gold Coast Suns perform next year I'm not a big AFL fan by any means,I prefer league,union & football. But I tend to watch the occasional match out of curiosity, be interesting to see how many wins they get in the first year compare to expansion teams of the past.
Mister Football
Guest
Yeh, it is a little. Carrara will still be under development, so they've tried to work round that.
andrew
Guest
Have GC got a Round 1 bye? That is a bit of an anticlimax.