CoastBhoy
23 Nov 2008, 20:17
McKenna admits: I've talked to Ablett
Brent Diamond | November 23, 2008
FORMER Geelong forward Nathan Ablett is likely to become a development project for AFL's newest team on the Gold Coast.
GC17 coach Guy McKenna has held informal discussions with the 22-year-old and is eyeing off the Cats' 2007 premiership player as a mature-aged recruit.
Ablett will be 25 when the Gold Coast is expected to begin in the AFL in 2011. He recently signed with the Broadbeach Cats in the AFLQ after moving to the Gold Coast and is reportedly intending to pursue a personal training career.
"We'll be looking at Ablett, just like we will with anyone playing footy on the Gold Coast over the next couple of years," McKenna told The Sunday Age.
"We'll be looking at a number of players at Broadbeach and other clubs and if he (Ablett) fits the bill of what we're looking for at the time and what he's looking for, we'll talk to him and he could be a pretty good recruit for us."
McKenna said the team was already looking in good shape with "future bookends" in the GC17's under-18 development team.
"We're doing pretty well with talls. We think we've got our future bookends and we're seeing a lot of potential out of the guys already," he said.
"It's been hard over the past couple of days because of the torrential rain up here, but we're going along well at the moment."
McKenna said the shy-natured Ablett, selected at No. 49 in 2004 AFL draft under the father-son rule, could become a mentor for some of the younger players in the club's early stages.
"We're by no means near getting him to the club, but say this time next year, we might look at it and sit down with him depending on how he goes," he said.
It is understood Ablett chose to play with Broadbeach because of the club's relaxed atmosphere and lower profile after choosing to retire after season 2007, perhaps needing to escape the spotlight that accompanies the Ablett name, particularly in Geelong.
The AFL is expected to approve the licence of the league's 17th team, despite deferring the announcement at an AFL commission meeting in Sydney during the week while it re-examined the financial modelling in light of the changed economic circumstances.
It did, however, overcome an impasse with the Queensland Government to allow the new club to play all home games - except the local derby against the Brisbane Lions - at Carrara Stadium.
Brent Diamond | November 23, 2008
FORMER Geelong forward Nathan Ablett is likely to become a development project for AFL's newest team on the Gold Coast.
GC17 coach Guy McKenna has held informal discussions with the 22-year-old and is eyeing off the Cats' 2007 premiership player as a mature-aged recruit.
Ablett will be 25 when the Gold Coast is expected to begin in the AFL in 2011. He recently signed with the Broadbeach Cats in the AFLQ after moving to the Gold Coast and is reportedly intending to pursue a personal training career.
"We'll be looking at Ablett, just like we will with anyone playing footy on the Gold Coast over the next couple of years," McKenna told The Sunday Age.
"We'll be looking at a number of players at Broadbeach and other clubs and if he (Ablett) fits the bill of what we're looking for at the time and what he's looking for, we'll talk to him and he could be a pretty good recruit for us."
McKenna said the team was already looking in good shape with "future bookends" in the GC17's under-18 development team.
"We're doing pretty well with talls. We think we've got our future bookends and we're seeing a lot of potential out of the guys already," he said.
"It's been hard over the past couple of days because of the torrential rain up here, but we're going along well at the moment."
McKenna said the shy-natured Ablett, selected at No. 49 in 2004 AFL draft under the father-son rule, could become a mentor for some of the younger players in the club's early stages.
"We're by no means near getting him to the club, but say this time next year, we might look at it and sit down with him depending on how he goes," he said.
It is understood Ablett chose to play with Broadbeach because of the club's relaxed atmosphere and lower profile after choosing to retire after season 2007, perhaps needing to escape the spotlight that accompanies the Ablett name, particularly in Geelong.
The AFL is expected to approve the licence of the league's 17th team, despite deferring the announcement at an AFL commission meeting in Sydney during the week while it re-examined the financial modelling in light of the changed economic circumstances.
It did, however, overcome an impasse with the Queensland Government to allow the new club to play all home games - except the local derby against the Brisbane Lions - at Carrara Stadium.