The crucial cogs of AFL's Round 7: Which players need to be the difference makers?
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Gary Ablett’s season is over after scans revealed the Gold Coast captain has suffered a grade-two tear to the medial ligament in his knee.
The dual Brownlow medallist suffered the injury during Saturday’s loss to Adelaide, when teammate Matt Shaw fell on his lower leg as he tackled an opponent.
It means Ablett’s season has been restricted to just six AFL appearances, having battled shoulder issues during the first half of the year.
“It is a bit disappointing. But that’s the way it goes,” Ablett told the Suns website.
“I’ll just jump into rehab now and get it right for next season.”
Ablett said the injury happened “pretty quick” but knew straight away he was in trouble.
“I’ve seen the vision and it really didn’t look like too much,” he said.
“One of the boys fell on my ankle and his body weight went across my knee and it kind of felt like a ‘poppy’ feeling in there and I knew I’d done something to it.
“I went down to the rooms, did some tests and it didn’t feel great.”
Before his shoulder injury midway through last year, Ablett has had an almost unblemished fitness record.
He has played more than 20 games each season every year except this year, 2014 and 2002, the year after he was drafted with Geelong.
“It’s obviously disappointing. But at the same time, it’s the game we play. Injuries are part of the game,” Ablett said.
“I’ve seen so many of my teammates go through a lot worse injuries than what I’ve had. I’ve been very lucky over my 14-year career.
“I’ll just focus on the rehab now, do what I’ve got to do and I’m just looking forward to helping the boys out where I can over the next six weeks and then jumping into a big pre-season.”
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We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
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