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JOHNNO: Ablett’s talent will be wasted if the Suns can’t give support

Expert
3rd April, 2013
11

Watching Gary Ablett last year, I started to fear his longevity in the game would be affected by carrying his Gold Coast team. It would be a huge loss to footy.

If he doesn’t get some serious help in the engine room, the grind of being so far and away his side’s best performer will take an early toll.

I watched Ablett against the Saints during Round 1 and was blown away by his performance. He is the number one player in the comp by a distance.

He is kicking goals, chasing down tackles, winning the footy on the last line of defence, dominating stoppages. He is literally doing it all.

Last year, it seemed that every other game he clocked up 40-plus possessions, as well as equaling the all-time high with 53.

Another player might occasionally hit 40 with a few cheap stats thrown in, but not Gazza. His numbers are genuinely hard earned. He gets plenty of contested ball, breaks tackles, and takes contested marks. On the weekend he once again destroyed a hard tag.

No-one is matching his work rate right now. I had never in my life seen St Kilda tagger Clint Jones cramp up, but playing on the champ he was out on his feet.

Sam Gilbert stepped in to have a crack and the result was three goals in the last term, including that ripper from 40 around the corner.

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And while that is phenomenal to watch, and great to write about, it is too much for one player to shoulder week in, week out.

It was a common perception that Gazza got a nice ride at Geelong with the other stars around him.

In some ways that was true. You couldn’t afford to focus totally on Ablett, as Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey, Joel Selwood or James Kelly would hurt you.

But at Gold Coast, Ablett has the polar opposite situation. That he has been able to take his own game to another level in response is testament not only to his ability but also his mental toughness.

But in having him shoulder such a load, the Suns can’t be allowed to wear the little champ out. Coach Guy McKenna has identified this, saying that Ablett will play more time forward this season to slightly lighten his workload.

The way I see it, his staggering numbers will be even stronger if he can get 25 to 30 possessions with about three goals attached.

A drop in his possession rate would be supplemented by the class added to the forward line, whether that means the champ kicking 50 goals for the year, or using his foot skills to set up teammates in better position.

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That’s hardly going to be a downside for the Gold Coast.

At the same time, Ablett’s absence from the centre will demand and hopefully help drive the development of the midfielders around him. David Swallow, Karmichael Hunt, Harley Bennell, Michael Rischitelli, Trent McKenzie and Jaeger O’Meara are the next tier.

The situation is unique in the AFL, with such a superstar playing at a level so far above the teammates around him. Gazza is carrying the side as well as trying to develop his young teammates.

He’s talking and directing, giving instructions about set-ups, planning passages of play and ball movement from defence, as well as trying to win the footy himself.

It has been a huge job, but at least at times during the NAB Cup and in Round 1 we saw that others are starting to share a little more of the responsibility.

The real test for Gold Coast will be when Gary is next rested or misses with injury. We will all judge the pure development of the group at this time.

As for Gary, given his competitive nature, it may be hard to get him to relinquish any responsibility. But he’ll ultimately have to accept those instructions, as they will only improve the group as a whole in the longer term.

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Everyone loves a champion, particularly a good-natured and humble one like Gaz. With luck and good management, we’ll be able to enjoy seeing him play for the full quota of his career.

For the sake of football, let’s hope the Gold Coast get it right.

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