A hurting Gary Ablett could walk away from the game at the end of the 2017 AFL season with a year left on his contract with Gold Coast.
Ablett has been widely criticised and his commitment to the Suns questioned after his poor body language during last week’s 102-point thrashing by Greater Western Sydney.
“It does hurt … when you hear anyone speaking about you like that it would be lying to say that it didn’t hurt,” Ablett told the Nine Network’s The Footy Show on Thursday night.
“It does hurt when you hear people say that you don’t care.
“I’m someone that has been in the system for 16 years. The game’s given so much to me and I’m hoping that people can say at the end of my career that I’ve given a bit back to the game as well.
“I go out there every week, I’m a super competitive guy, and I don’t like to lose.
“I’m sure if you were to look at footage of any team that loses by 100 points, you will find footage of guys with their head down because we’re competitive as footballers and we want to win games.”
The 32-year-old had a trade request back to Geelong for family reasons denied by the Suns at the end of last season.
He said he is still dealing with personal issues that could lead to his retirement later this year.
“I think that was (something) that I was really honest about with the club … I said ‘this may be my last season’,” he said of his failed attempt to return to Geelong.
“I’ve got some things going on in my life that I’m not going to elaborate on, but they are my No.1 priority at the moment.
“I said to the club (last year) that I’m super committed to this year … I’m going to give it everything.
“But I don’t know what 2018 holds for me. I will sit down with the club at the end of the year, we will talk through that and I will work out what the next step is for me.”
Ablett wouldn’t elaborate when asked if he would submit another trade request after this season, but he denied his Victorian wife, Jordan, had anything to do with his potential retirement.
Ablett wouldn’t rule out playing on with the Suns in the right scenario, adding he is happy at the club he joined before the 2011 season.
The 290-game veteran has struggled with shoulder injuries over the past two seasons but was buoyed by a solid pre-season and is feeling more confident in his body.
Ablett has played 98 games for the Suns and captained the club for six years before he stepped down late last year.
hooked13
Roar Rookie
Still stand by this after this "rabble" thrashed the Hawks?
George
Guest
One of the best players ever. I loved to watch him in his prime. Best captain and teammate? Definitely not. Why would he go for paid interview on the stupid Footy show instead of joining teammates at Metricon press conference. It was painful to watch and telling. It's all about Gary.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
He left Geelong and they won a premiership the next year. Suns never made the finals with him as captain. Felt at times he was more interested in 40+ possessions than winning.
steve
Guest
Don to be fair, if you had seen the game against GWS, I don't know if you did or didn't. But commitment isn't the word you would use to associate his performance in that game.
Simoc
Guest
He discovered the worst admin the AFL has had (even worse than Freo, Melbourne and Richmonds) and then they gave him a coach many years past his use by date. They got the best player and he got the worst quinella. The Suns are a rabble of talented players.
Cat
Roar Guru
Doesn't take away what he did in his prime. No retconning allowed.
Don Freo
Guest
Oh well...if you are tired of hearing about it... Isn't it horrible when people say tiresome things?
Bob GOOCH
Guest
Maybe he can find God mark 2 in Geelong - say a prayer for him hey
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
He's going to retire, move back to Geelong, and suddenly rediscover the desire to play AFL again. Conveniently for Geelong too. I'm getting tired of hearing about this diva. He chose to sign this contract with the Suns, and because the team isn't playing as well as he hoped he wants to bail on them. Really selfish. All about him. Can't even be happy making $1 million per year in the twilight of his career. There are people in this world with real problems and Ablett Jr is not one of them. I remember a few years ago people started calling this guy the greatest player of all time. Looking ridiculous now.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
He was a Gun! He's not any more. He's just a bloke running around collecting a paycheck. Last game against GWS, I've seen my Daughter go in harder and with more purposes in a AusKick game than what Gaz was. He's clearly not invested in footy.
Joe B
Guest
It was silly to re-sign him on that contract... but given all the departures, can't blame the Suns for enforcing the contract in lieu of suitable compensation. But definitely have to get rid of him at season's end... via suitable trade, or retirement, but at no financial cost to Suns. Ablett was lacking as an off field leader, which is not good for a very young squad... it allows bad eggs like Karmichael Hunt to lead the young ones astray.
mdso
Guest
Have 't we got it yet, some of these blood suckering parasites will print anything to sell a newspaper or get a click.
MG
Roar Rookie
Suns screwed up by re-signing him on too long a contract and then made it worse by not letting him go back to Geelong. It's just not good for the team to have someone who doesn't want to be there and they'd have been better off sucking it up and moving on.
Don Freo
Guest
Gazza is a gun. It amazes me that anyone would think that he lacks commitment. For a relatively little bloke to be one of the greatest ever does not come on the back of a lack of commitment. There is some footy talk that should never see the light of day. So few articles talk about good football and good footballers. It as if writers don't recognize it. So negative.