It’s been on the cards for some time, but it’s now official: Gary Ablett Jr has his eyes set on a return to the Geelong Cats in 2018, requesting a trade with the Gold Coast Suns.
“Gary Ablett today informed the club of his desire to be traded to Geelong during next month’s exchange period,” Suns chief executive Mark Evans said in a statement today.
“We indicated to Gary and his manager Liam Pickering that there are conditions that will need to be met for the Gold Coast if this is to be achieved.
“Scott Clayton will be available to meet with Liam and Geelong to ensure these conditions are met.”
Speculation has been rife throughout 2017 about Ablett’s future, with whispers the two-time Brownlow Medallist was eyeing off a move home surfacing early in the season.
Ablett made his name at the Cattery, winning the first of his Brownlows and his two premierships with Geelong before heading to the Gold Coast to captain the Suns in the club’s debut season in 2011.
Ablett continued his form as one of the best players in the AFL – if not the best player – in his early seasons with the Suns, earning All Australian selection in his first four years on the Gold Coast and his second Brownlow Medal in 2013.
That stellar play never translated into team success for the Suns, though, with the expansion club consistently failing to make the finals.
The last two seasons have seen Ablett’s form drop off as he struggled with injury, but he was still able to claim Gold Coast’s best and fairest award in 2017 despite only playing 14 matches for the club.
The move back to Geelong, should it eventuate, will give Ablett one last shot at a premiership, as a midfield combination of him, Patrick Dangerfield and club captain Joel Selwood will have the Cats in genuine flag contention in 2018.
Mark
Guest
Yeah, getting Wells and Mayne is a much better strategy.
Brian S
Guest
From what i saw this year, i really don't think Geelong will get there monies worth out of him !!! i couldn't see him playing more then 16 games maybe even less ? !
asd
Guest
Ablett may have priced himself out of getting back to the motherland .Have to give a lot to secure him .His body is beaten up.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
That won't get it done. Suns are not required to accept a rubbish offer - they can simply call Ablett's bluff and see if he retires.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Motlop and Menzel won’t get close to getting the deal done. They are both out of contract and not worth much on the open market. The reason that Menzel has not re-signed with Geelong is because they low balled him on their offer, would be ridiculous to offer him up as someone they value. Motlop is flighty and soft – the Suns already have too many of these types of players and if a Club like Geelong could not extract consistency out of him with the culture and sustained excellence there is absolutely no way he will get it done on the Gold Coast.
Pat Clarey
Guest
Well said Frances, I have a gut feeling if Gaz goes back to Cats it will end in tears. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out over the next year, if trade gets done, what it costs the Cats, how Gaz's body holds up, do Cats go one better in finals after all and how Brownlow votes are spread between Joel, Gaz and Paddy. Oh and where do the Sun's land on the ladder next year....intriguing story ahead, maybe a movie could be made out of this!
asd
Guest
this best for both he doesnt want to be there and they dont need him.He must like cold winters
mickyo
Guest
Yep thats right, he played OK from what i saw later in the season.
Karma Miranda
Guest
Queenslanders at Geelong? There's always Zac Smit... Nevermind
Tony Condon
Roar Rookie
If Geelong thinks that Gary Ablett is the answer 'tell them that they are dreaming'.
Seano
Roar Rookie
Pick 33 and Menzel gets the job done. Cats to pay the full 3rd year of the contract. It was front ended so only 500,000.
Craig
Guest
Ablett to the Cats would be great. I for one hope to see him back in the colours he belongs in. The suns can't have gotten any more out of him. Maybe he didn't have the leadership qualities they hoped for, but you couldn't question his performances in his time at the suns. He won a brownlow in an awful team for gods sake! He is almost single handedly responsible for half of their wins in that period. I hope they get some compensation, but keeping a bloke who doesn't want to be there doesn't help anyone.
mickyo
Guest
GC need to keep focussing on the academy. They have some very good kids, eventually it will pay off big time.
mickyo
Guest
Probably a couple of Queenslanders at Geelong, the big bloke with funny name is, Wylie Buzza. Trade him and a low draft choice for Ablett. Ablett is pretty much gone now anyway
BigAl
Guest
This will not end well for anyone! - Ablett, Cats, Suns, AFL, football fans...
Peter Goegan
Guest
The whole thing is a bit of a joke. Geelong will never learn that you must go down to get up. They remind me of Carlton and their inability to accept that you need young kids to build your team around not players with 2 years left in them.
Matto
Guest
Won't get 1st round pick. Top 5 is a bit generous now days but still quality and will improve Geelong. Prob not enough for a flag. Problem is not knowing how his body will hold up over next couple seasons. Lastly id say "The Gold Coast has been nothing short of a disaster for Ablett" is just as accurate.
Matto
Guest
His contract was front loaded. Cats are interested in him.
Kane
Guest
If he was full time forward away from the crash and bash in the midfield then i have no doubt about it. He'd be a 50+ goal a year forward.
Brayden Rise
Roar Pro
This will be a challenging decision for the Cats if they have to trade away draft picks for Gary. Their top up strategies have got them repeatedly to finals but not to the ultimate since 2011. They looked slow in their two losing finals and need more youth coming through. Gary's injury worries this year will be a concern as well.