Geelong’s discussions about bringing back wantaway Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett were quickly shut down by the Suns, the Cats say.
Ablett requested to be traded to Geelong but was knocked back by Gold Coast officials.
The 32-year-old, who joined the club in 2010 from the Cats, is understood to have asked permission to re-join Geelong after his wife Jordan expressed her desire to move back to Victoria.
“The Gold Coast was very clear on the fact he was their player and will continue to be their player. He had just signed a three-year deal earlier in the year,” Geelong’s head of football Steve Hocking told News Corp Australia.
“They were very clear on that and shut it down very quickly to Gary. We respected their opinion right from the word go.
“It was him looking to come back to the club and it was all to do with him and the Gold Coast.
“It didn’t drag on too long, it was shut down by the Gold Coast.”
Ablett signed a $10-million contract to be the Suns’ inaugural skipper before inking a three-year extension last year.
He has two years left on his contract.
Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane told News Corp Australia Ablett’s request amounted to a “very brief conversation” and Geelong had approached him.
“Gary completely accepted that as far as the Gold Coast Suns are concerned he’s an absolutely required player,” Cochrane said.
The Suns lost Dion Prestia (Richmond) and Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn) during the trade period, but brought in Brisbane star Pearce Hanley and Jarryd Lyons from Adelaide.
Asd
Guest
Ablett is passed his prime now
Pete
Guest
Eade was a far better coach in his day but I think his time has passed. Even the best coaches seem to have struggled to get the best out of teams once they reach the age of 55-60.
Steve J
Roar Guru
I wonder which Clarko disciple the Suns will replace Eade with? Or maybe Dew ....
Paul D
Roar Guru
I think there's some uncanny parallels with McKenna/Voss and Eade/Leppitsch. Eade seems to be heading on the same trajectory as Leppa too.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Very true TWAS, in any event, now that the AFL has come this far, they ain't about to abandon the idea in a hurry (and it would be wrong for anyone to describe the Suns as a disaster, far from it). One very bright note - of the four Northern academies, this season it will be the Suns grabbing the best player of them, originally from Cairns no less, proof that the four Northern academies are doing what they are designed to do (after that, the Giants have two pretty good ones as well).
Mister Football
Roar Guru
It was a horrendous run of injuries, bluey was definitely hard done by.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Totally agree Don. Wow. Never thought I'd ever say that!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why would removing one QLD club ensure the other is stronger on the park? In a competition of drafts, trades, etc. a greater share of the region won't necessarily help anything on the park.
Don Freo
Guest
It seems they all want to move away from Rocket. None of this when Bluey was there. The only thing that cost Bluey a finals berth a few years ago...probably a top 4 berth...was that crazy run of injury to these 3 players (and 6 more) in the last 3rd of the year Replace Rocket and you solve the problem.
Don Freo
Guest
Basket case? This is one of the most financially independent clubs in the comp. State of the art facilities...regular finalist, destination club for WA boys... Freo would be a template for Eastern States clubs to copy.
Cat
Roar Guru
Nor should they have, none of them started with 0 like GCFC did.
Cat
Roar Guru
Shaping to be an interesting next trade period, first Gibbs, now Ablett.
Paul D
Roar Guru
It didn't even get to an offer stage. Ablett asked the powers-that-be at the Suns and was told no, no chance at all that was happening. That was the end of it. They will trade him next year when he has one year left to run and they haven't just lost two blue chip midfielders.
Birdman
Guest
my point being those clubs never got a fraction of the concessions and funding that the Suns have got to date and while some looked shakey at times, they all achieved success at times(yes even Freo who have been a genuine contender) I can't see it working on the GC even in the long term esp. with Cochrane and co. in charge.
MG
Roar Rookie
I can't see the Cats having the salary cap to afford Ablett. I wonder how far the request went? My suspicion is that the Cats offered not much and wanted the Suns to keep paying some of his salary. If the Suns could have gotten it done and offered more money to Prestia and/or O'Meara to stay, or even gotten a free agent on big money they'd be better off. It would be an admission they got it wrong paying so much to one player in a start up club and really trying to clean the slate. Gary does not look like he wants to be there and has for some time so I can't see him performing anywhere near what he was capable of. Add to that the bad shoulder and it starts to look to me like the Suns should have done the deal.
Cat
Roar Guru
True but there are a lot of things said by a vocal minority on this site that makes no sense.
Paul D
Roar Guru
No kidding. But other clubs don’t get called amateurs and told they should be wound up for insisting their players honour contracts.
Cat
Roar Guru
Contracted players asking out is not an issue for Queensland clubs alone. It is a problem all clubs have had to deal with.
Cat
Roar Guru
Alternately imagine always having Gazza play 80% of his time forward, then switch with Danger when he needs a rest forward.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I have no problem with going back to one powerhouse side in Queensland but it won’t be for the reasons you suggest – as I said to you two days ago this problem of player power is not going to be fixed by the Queensland clubs lying down and letting their players walk all over them and out the door without a fight.