Word is that they're targeting Menzel. However, apparently, at this stage if Menzel leaves the Cats he'd like to head home to Adelaide.
Absolutely, Thy.
Even if Geelong arrange a sweetheart deal with Gold Coast to create a first round or sandwich round (between 1st and 2nd) compensation pick to pass along for Ablett it's going to cost Geelong money and likely a second player on top of the one Gold Coast signing to get him home due to the salary cap.
GAJ isn't close to the player that he used to be. Don't get me wrong, he's still very very good (always will be) but he's not going to be the difference between Geelong winning and losing a premiership. In many ways I feel that it's backwards thinking for a team that has looked forward like few others over the past decade. After all, this is the same club that pressured Jimmy Bartel (and probably others) into retiring a year or so earlier than he (they) would have liked. TO bring Ablett back after all of that smacks of desperation.
So if they want to lose multiple younger capable players to bring Ablett home let them go right ahead. That'll be one or two less Geelong players we need to worry about when we're up and about.
Everything about the age demographic on their list that you've said, I agree with, but you're dramatically underselling what Ablett would provide them.
Instead of Motlop - a flakey, ridiculously inconsistent half forward - you're getting a midfielder who can play anywhere in the forward half and be more productive than everyone on their list, with the single exception of Dangerfield.
They keep Duncan, Selwood and Danger on the park, Ablett is just gravy. Can show up or not as suits, tearing games apart by kicking six in a half as a medium forward or go into the midfield and reversing your clearance/contested ball issues.
It'd only last for a year or two, and he's nowhere near the player he used to be, but he'd be a huge in in the genuine short term. They go from a side with three and a half players to having a starting midfield of Ablett, Selwood and Danger.