Rumour Ablett back to Geelong in 2016

[you pick one]

Three months ago I was offered a contract that would give me two and a half times what I was getting,I'd held the other contract for 11 years and it meant packing up and moving from a home I had put 30 years into.it didn't take me 11 minutes to except the new deal on offer hence the change of address.
You can call me anything you like but it made great business sense.
Sure there were a few noses put out of joint but ha your got to do whats best for you.

 

[HiberDive]

I've lost count of the amount of times I've wondered how much better Geelong would be with Ablett back in last season. 2011 was another story, we were loaded (obviously), but 2012 some of the older guy weren't at their old best and we always seemed to have a gap that a playmaker like him would fill perfectly.

That said, I've moved on, there's no turning back. I totally respect him for leaving and glad to see the other Geelong players are no longer getting a bum deal to be in the best side. I would even say I enjoy watching him at Gold Coast and hope he can boost their fortunes as a fan of AFL expansion.

 

[AM]

I'm a totally unashamed Ablett fan, watch all his games if I'm around, hope that he wins a Brownlow every year, regard him as the #1 player in the comp by a lot, and would be rapt if he did the Prodigal Son thing and finished his career at home. He, at 31-34 ,would still have IT. Those who recall Lethal at the end of his career, Ablett would surpass that in a forward pocket/ FF role.
YES.

No! No! We must continue our angst. We must not forgive. We must not be pragmatic. We must not put the best interests of the club before our loathing, even if it could cost us a premiership or two when the next window is wide open.

 

[Vdubs]

I've lost count of the amount of times I've wondered how much better Geelong would be with Ablett back in last season. 2011 was another story, we were loaded (obviously), but 2012 some of the older guy weren't at their old best and we always seemed to have a gap that a playmaker like him would fill perfectly.

That said, I've moved on, there's no turning back. I totally respect him for leaving and glad to see the other Geelong players are no longer getting a bum deal to be in the best side. I would even say I enjoy watching him at Gold Coast and hope he can boost their fortunes as a fan of AFL expansion.

I enjoy him at GC. But when he's finished there, which could be end 2015, he will not be a spent force.
All these negative responders, what if he ends up playing for one of our nemeses, Haw, StK??
I could not believe it when he left, Costa gave me a conversational assurance we would never lose Gary, yet we did, but whatever went through his thought processes...
Trent Croad successfully returned to Haw, we brought back Aaron Lord, these guys aren't fit to tie Ablett's bootlaces, there are predcedents, but most of all, he's Ablett.

 

[FredLeDeux]

I enjoy him at GC. But when he's finished there, which could be end 2015, he will not be a spent force.
All these negative responders, what if he ends up playing for one of our nemeses, Haw, StK??
I could not believe it when he left, Costa gave me a conversational assurance we would never lose Gary, yet we did, but whatever went through his thought processes...
Trent Croad successfully returned to Haw, we brought back Aaron Lord, these guys aren't fit to tie Ablett's bootlaces, there are predcedents, but most of all, he's Ablett.

If he did quit GC and decided to go anywhere else but Geelong well then I'd be disappointed.

 

[topic97]

What about the prospect of him bugging out of his contract earlier and coming back then?

You think, every year GC are in the comp their list has to be culled as does their salary cap.
Their young stars will be on the improve and therefore demanding more money.

Sure, he was on a 5 year deal, but if he really wanted to come back a year or two earlier its not an impossible thought....

 

[romeoh]

I enjoy him at GC. But when he's finished there, which could be end 2015, he will not be a spent force.
All these negative responders, what if he ends up playing for one of our nemeses, Haw, StK??
I could not believe it when he left, Costa gave me a conversational assurance we would never lose Gary, yet we did, but whatever went through his thought processes...
Trent Croad successfully returned to Haw, we brought back Aaron Lord, these guys aren't fit to tie Ablett's bootlaces, there are predcedents, but most of all, he's Ablett.

If he went to Hawthorn then it woud simply confirm the lack of moral fibre, that some question, wouldn't it? And I wouldn't give a toss for him then. Loved him playing for us, don't feel bitter and not fussed either way but don't expect me to worship at the shrine of Ablett. We did all right in 2011 without him and an ounce of luck with injuries etc this year we were close enough and am full of optimism about current list.

 

[Grizzly_82]

I enjoy him at GC. But when he's finished there, which could be end 2015, he will not be a spent force.
All these negative responders, what if he ends up playing for one of our nemeses, Haw, StK??
I could not believe it when he left, Costa gave me a conversational assurance we would never lose Gary, yet we did, but whatever went through his thought processes...
Trent Croad successfully returned to Haw, we brought back Aaron Lord, these guys aren't fit to tie Ablett's bootlaces, there are predcedents, but most of all, he's Ablett.

A GC flag would mean for him than the '07 and '09 according to Gaz.

Never mind that fact he turned his back on the club straight after the '09 Grand Final and then lied about it. Can't believe people would forgive him so easily.

Let him rot away in GC

 

[Art Vandelay_]

My uncle has driven him to the airport a few times and gaz flat out told him that at the end of his GC contract he will be returning to the cats and missing out on the 2011 flag hurt more than the 08 GF loss

 

[Grizzly_82]

the Bomber doing deals with his old club half way through the year and playing GAJ in the forward line rather than in the midfield - even though h was the best midfielder in the league?

Gaz was doing deals with the Suns straight after the '09 GF, beats Bomber by 9 months

 

[footscore]

He, at 31-34 ,would still have IT. Those who recall Lethal at the end of his career, Ablett would surpass that in a forward pocket/ FF role.
YES.

I reckon that's the thing as you say, a player that good would still be a phenomenon at the end of his days when situated closer to the goals.
Imagine having our young guys heading into their 5th/6th/7th seasons and then gaining Jnr for a couple of years and playing a final with him down there.
He wouldn't even need to rely on his athleticism in later years, he'd be like a Williams but have the added bonus of kicking 50 metres.

He'd be better than Chapman right now at 31 and quite possibly a better player than Stevie J as well in 3 years time.

 

[Linx]

Hell yeah I want him back. Regardless of him leaving, he is a Geelong legend, his name is tied to Geelong and is one of the greatest players the game has seen. He hasn't had any major injuries and, if he is like his old man, will be a late peaker. Lets face it, how many of you would turn down a job offer, in a similar role, that pays over double your current salary? Not to mention he has pretty much accomplished all that he could at Geelong (Premiership, Brownlow, BnF, MVP, AAs, Coaches awards, goal kicking awards, etc). If his old team mates are still mates with him and don't hold grudges, we should all get over it as well.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

When this Era is finally over -i will have much fonder memories of Sellwood and Bartel than Ablett as great Geelong players . With The 1st two -everything is about the team -where as with Ablett -everything was about him. That saga in 2010 when he wouldnt declare what he was going to do was total Nonsense -just like Cloke this year at Collingwood . 800 grand to stay at Geelong -its not actually chicken feed -yet it wasnt enough-he missed out on a premiership -and easily the best premiership of the 3.

I think actually Ablett leaving when he did -could turn out a God Send -time will tell . Smedts and Caddy are Geelong players as a direct result -thats a pretty good result -which could extend this great era for the club

 

[THE CAT WRANGLER]

When this Era is finally over -i will have much fonder memories of Sellwood and Bartel than Ablett as great Geelong players . With The 1st two -everything is about the team -where as with Ablett -everything was about him. That saga in 2010 when he wouldnt declare what he was going to do was total Nonsense -just like Cloke this year at Collingwood . 800 grand to stay at Geelong -its not actually chicken feed -yet it wasnt enough-he missed out on a premiership -and easily the best premiership of the 3.

I think actually Ablett leaving when he did -could turn out a God Send -time will tell . Smedts and Caddy are Geelong players as a direct result -thats a pretty good result -which could extend this great era for the club

Good balanced view I do think the coaches behaviour also didn't help

 

[candiehappy]

Good balanced view I do think the coaches behaviour also didn't help

agree on both accounts. Remember the membership promo the following season? It had players with various labels - Selwood's was "Loyalty", very pointed.
I don't begrudge GAJ anything. He'd already repaid what the club provided him. We don't know if there was more to it than a bucket full of dollars. Maybe he'd had enough of being in a glass bowel? Some posters are going on about the Ablett family connection - clearly the family has some major disfuntional issues. Maybe he needed a break from that?

How we would know?

 

[FredLeDeux]

When this Era is finally over -i will have much fonder memories of Sellwood and Bartel than Ablett as great Geelong players . With The 1st two -everything is about the team -where as with Ablett -everything was about him. That saga in 2010 when he wouldnt declare what he was going to do was total Nonsense -just like Cloke this year at Collingwood . 800 grand to stay at Geelong -its not actually chicken feed -yet it wasnt enough-he missed out on a premiership -and easily the best premiership of the 3.

I think actually Ablett leaving when he did -could turn out a God Send -time will tell . Smedts and Caddy are Geelong players as a direct result -thats a pretty good result -which could extend this great era for the club

Good balanced view I do think the coaches behaviour also didn't help

"Good balanced view"? Fair go!

 

[Varcoe2Chapman]

Can understand some of the negative remarks but a lot of them are out of line.

Would welcome him back with open arms. Ablett has been the biggest name at the club for almost 30 years.

 

[David the Cat]

I am sure the Club will take a pragmatic approach to the return of Ablett.

This is business.

 

[David the Cat]

"Good balanced view"? Fair go!

LOL....not exactly balanced but not far from the truth Fred...

Ablett lost me with the epiphany on Hamilton Island bullshit. It was insulting.

 

[FredLeDeux]

LOL....not exactly balanced but not far from the truth Fred...

Ablett lost me with the epiphany on Hamilton Island bullshit. It was insulting.

I was only saying that it couldn't by any stretch be called balanced.
I wasn't even looking at the board when it all occurred, but people still have very strong opinions about it, it must have been incendiary at the time.

 

[Vdubs]

When this Era is finally over -i will have much fonder memories of Sellwood and Bartel than Ablett as great Geelong players . With The 1st two -everything is about the team -where as with Ablett -everything was about him. That saga in 2010 when he wouldnt declare what he was going to do was total Nonsense -just like Cloke this year at Collingwood . 800 grand to stay at Geelong -its not actually chicken feed -yet it wasnt enough-he missed out on a premiership -and easily the best premiership of the 3.

I think actually Ablett leaving when he did -could turn out a God Send -time will tell . Smedts and Caddy are Geelong players as a direct result -thats a pretty good result -which could extend this great era for the club

If Ablett had stayed, which of our guns would have left? Selwood, the one about whom there have been discussions related to Costa/payments? Bartel? We would have lost someone, naive to think otherwise. That he felt compelled to leave for $ reasons is not the complete story, the fact he would even consider returning despite the flak says more.

 

[SleazySimon]

No one likes the way he left but we won a flag after he left anyway. No one liked the way he acted but its time to move on.
He has a lot of haters that's for sure, but weather you like it or not the name 'gary ablett' means everything to Geelong, and ablett jnr is the best midfielder right now, and will be one of the all time greats, not saying he'll be better than his old man.

We would defiantly be a better team if he came back, he could play up forward and into his 30s like his old man.

The best part of it would mean we have received ablett + smedts + caddy since he left

 

[Beth]

Flogging the daddy and junior memorabilia was it for me. By all means take the money at a new club but don't try to wring every last cent out of faithful Geelong diehards on your way out, I mean really. It just speaks volumes about their character. Sorry folks, Do. Not. Want. Ablett is the past I'm excited about the future.

 

[SJ]

Flogging the daddy and junior memorabilia was it for me. By all means take the money at a new club but don't try to wring every last cent out of faithful Geelong diehards on your way out, I mean really. It just speaks volumes about their character. Sorry folks, Do. Not. Want. Ablett is the past I'm excited about the future.

Yeah this is forgotten about. Launch a website half way through 2010 to flog off memorabilia while your brand hasn't been sullied, then pull it later on when you've finally 'decided' about heading to the Suns.

 

[JUBJUB]

Flogging the daddy and junior memorabilia was it for me. By all means take the money at a new club but don't try to wring every last cent out of faithful Geelong diehards on your way out, I mean really. It just speaks volumes about their character. Sorry folks, Do. Not. Want. Ablett is the past I'm excited about the future.

Was that when that website was set up ?