This week’s Gold Coast Suns captain Gary Ablett has joined his teammates in full training for the first time after a club-approved extension of his honeymoon with wife Jordan.
Prior to arrival, Ablett send a message to the players that he was 100 per cent committed to the Suns after his former teammate, Campbell Brown, threw him under a bus by tweeting that current Gold Coast players were “filthy” that the Brownlow Medallist was not back in training. Bit harsh Brownie.
It would be a better man than I who races back from a week on the nest for a two-kilometre time trial in searing heat.
Maybe the message should have read “fairly committed given I couldn’t get out.” But I guess that doesn’t have quite the same ring of enthusiasm.
And as reported last month, Ablett requested a move back to Geelong during the trade period, citing family reasons.
It was also reported that Jordan was unhappy living on the Gold Coast, which to me also falls under the heading of family reasons.
I don’t know the circumstances, but an unhappy wife rates right up there with any known medical condition. And call me cynical, but if she’d prefer Geelong weather over the Gold Coast, unhappy might be a gross understatement.
A million bucks a year is good coin, but it will buy you three times as much in Geelong as the Gold Coast. Maybe a complete industrial estate, but I’m no property expert.
So, despite requesting to play with another team in another state, and still playing with a team who knows he wanted out, and still living with Mrs A who clearly doesn’t want to be there, the Suns would have us believe all is going spiffingly.
Clearly the bonds here are strong. And the Geelong salary cap stretched.
Although not strong enough to keep Jaeger O’Meara. Or Dion Prestia who was prepared to go to Richmond to get out. I mean who goes to Richmond by choice? Unless you’re lost or trying to avoid an RBT station.
Still, maybe he’s just one of those guys who was looking for the stability a united board can bring. Or knowing Damian Hardwick would be coaching for the next ten years. Or simply doesn’t want to work in September, we’re all different.
Anyway, all at the Suns are apparently now right behind Gazza, although the talk is that he may relinquish the captaincy. Some teams may use the word sacked, or asked to step down, but let’s not get bogged down in semantics.
This would at least free him up from constantly trying to explain to the fans and media why the team has been so spectacularly unsuccessful given the buckets of money and plethora of draft picks it had thrown its way to create a second successful franchise team in Queensland.
It would also give him more time to pursue property investments in southern Victoria. A win-win I say.
So, all’s good now in the sunshine state. And with the Gold Coast having picked up four quality players in the first ten draft picks, clearly the future’s so bright we’ll have to wear shades. Or at least slightly tinted glasses and a sun hat.
Mick_Lions
Roar Pro
I'm keeping my eye on GC. Their trade and draft period was first class. JO'M and Prestia barley played the last 2 years and it's allowed Miller and Hall to gain vital experience. Suddenly they have a midfield of: Ablett Swallow Risca Barlow Miller Hall Lyons Brodie and Bowes. Sure it will take awhile to click but if it does then look out. If Lynch and 2MP start getting silver service every game the results will start flowing. Personally I think Ablett should play as a forward like his early days and show Hall n Ainsworth how much damage they can do. They now have state of the art facilities and 2 captains who bleed orange. Me thinks the future is bright and SUNNY
Snert Underpant
Roar Rookie
Did a story this morning Gecko.
Snert Underpant
Roar Rookie
Sent one in this morning Tricky.0
Gecko
Guest
Enjoyed the article. Looking forward to Geoff taking aim at Eddie MacGuire and a few other fantasisers in 2017.
Pete
Guest
The time for the Cats to get Ablett back has passed. He doesn't sound like he's that interested in footy any more. With the injuries and lack of desire and age they would only want to part with a lower draft pick and less than half his current salary at best. That fantasy is just so unlikely to come true.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Throw in the fact both cities have a recent history of colourful corrupt mayors and massive graft on the council and it's a wonder how anyone in Gaz's family could be homesick, it's just like being at Kardinia except for the weather.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
" A million bucks a year is good coin, but it will buy you three times as much in Geelong as the Gold Coast. " I had a holiday on the coast with the family a few months back and I was genuinely surprised at how reasonable the property prices were. So Geoff might be right with that statement, but then again, I bet you there are properties around the Bellarine Peninsula and out towards Torquay which aren't exactly cheap.
Cat
Roar Guru
Just remember the 22 new games should be compared to a base of 0 without them, not compared to other markets or bigger teams. I understand the QLD audiences are small, but Foxtel doesn't care where a game is watched from, only that some subscribers are. To that end whomever a QLD team plays will draw eye to it in addition to just the QLD numbers. I imagine/hope/pipe dream that in time once the two teams start getting on their feet the audiences will grow with a game in QLD nearly every week versus every other week before the Suns. It's definitely more of a long term outlook though. With two teams in town there is also less of a chance of both being bad at the same time (though unfortunately we are starting off in pretty much the worst case).
Slane
Guest
It doesn't really matter where the viewers are tuning in from. Sure, grtting 50 thousand QLD viewers is not ideal but there will still be 250-300 thousand watching Brisbane around the country.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Good point but I must admit, I find the extra dollars for TV baffling, given how pathetically small the viewing figures are here in Queensland for the FTA Lions/Suns games. The difference between potential audience and actual audience is a vast yawning gulf where the Suns and Lions are concerned. They're to be found on 7mate on a sunday arvo with a few ten thousand desperados tuning in.
TomC
Roar Guru
That's a very important point in the context of the first two clubs set up outside of footy heartland, the Swans and Bears. For most of their early years they were in a position much worse than the Suns are now. Sure, they needed a lot of help to turns things around, but they also needed a generation to figure out how to make a footy team work in those markets.
Cat
Roar Guru
The amount of money the AFL is 'losing' is a lot smaller than most people think also. The 22 extra games a year because of the two expansion clubs is a big reason why the TV deal grew as much as it did. Without those games the AFL would never have gotten the money it did.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Pretty much - the AFL has more money than anyone else and doesn't mind losing it hand over fist to buy some popularity in Queensland. Would help if the team didn't suck, but David Swallow recommitting to the Suns is a positive step. Probably saw how the Roos treat their veterans and told Andrew he's on his own.
Maxirius
Guest
No I think the mistake is made by those who can't grasp the difference between the AFL's model and circumstances and that of other sports The Gold Coast Suns, with the support of the AFL, is there for the long haul. Some of the existing supporters will stick with their own teams, some will change and some will support both. Their kids though, and their kids friends, will increasingly support them That can sustain long periods of dysfunction because they have unconditional backing of the biggest professional show in the country
Tricky
Guest
Hey Geoff, you reckon you could do one on Collingwood? There's enough scribe conducive material going on there at the moment or even the past 5 years since the "succession" plan for that matter.
Tricky
Guest
Yep Cat you've summed it up pretty good, you could also use this analogy which has been used in the past. The AFL: 16 V8 supercars and 2 formula one cars - GWS & GC. Gold coast crashed theirs
Birdman
Guest
Cochrane will go to the wall to force Gaz to either stay for 2018 or retire at the end of 2017 - or at least that's what he'll say.....
The Finger
Guest
I really don't care who Ablett plays for - I just enjoy watching a champion in action. Tough gig for players training in much more uncomfortable conditions in SE Qld than elsewhere. Plus, like West Coast, they have long flights most fortnights, which Malthouse reported during his time as Eagles coach as shortening player careers. So, double whammy for those in Qld, making it tougher for the guys like Ablett who aren't getting any younger..... If going south will extend his career (aka Judd, who moved from West Coast to Carlton), I'm personally all for it.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
No need to patronise me, I do know what satire is. Plus, what Paul says is right. The Suns are in such a weird state of affairs at the moment that it's difficult sometimes to determine what is 'humour' and what is reality, haha.
Cat
Roar Guru
Suns might be able to get say a 2nd round or 3rd round if they eat part of the salary. Again a lot will depend on Gary's performance this year. I'd love to see him back in the hoops, he is my favourite player, but if it doesn't actually make the Cats a better side then I will happily just enjoy watching him play from afar.