I'm curious, how did everyone get Ablett Jnr wrong?

[HairyO]

Interesting take. Not sure anyone got him wrong.

He was happy to cruise through his career til Geelong told him to pull his finger out. Then he put 100% effort into everything he did and could have been the grestest Geelong player ever.

Then his dad told him to go to GCS for the money. He stayed at GCS racking up the $$$ and the personal glory until he decided he wanted to go home. This coincided with fsmily issues (which were always there) but also with his heavily front ended contract dropping off.

The the AFL rigged the FA compo to get Geelong the pick it needed to satisfy GCS enough to release him.

 

[Mr Meow]

Interesting take. Not sure anyone got him wrong.

He was happy to cruise through his career til Geelong told him to pull his finger out. Then he put 100% effort into everything he did and could have been the grestest Geelong player ever.

Then his dad told him to go to GCS for the money. He stayed at GCS racking up the $$$ and the personal glory until he decided he wanted to go home. This coincided with fsmily issues (which were always there) but also with his heavily front ended contract dropping off.

The the AFL rigged the FA compo to get Geelong the pick it needed to satisfy GCS enough to release him.

Bitterness101.

 

[PhatBoy]

Interesting take. Not sure anyone got him wrong.

He was happy to cruise through his career til Geelong told him to pull his finger out. Then he put 100% effort into everything he did and could have been the grestest Geelong player ever.

Then his dad told him to go to GCS for the money. He stayed at GCS racking up the $$$ and the personal glory until he decided he wanted to go home. This coincided with fsmily issues (which were always there) but also with his heavily front ended contract dropping off.

The the AFL rigged the FA compo to get Geelong the pick it needed to satisfy GCS enough to release him.

‘Rigged’: Band 2 compo pick (19) for a 26 year old player who had spent the previous five seasons averaging 2.1 goals/assists per game and 19.6 touches. He’d made an All Australian squad.

For context, Harry Perryman drew the same compo pick for GWS and he was the same age, and while he had been a solid player across his career I think you’d struggle to say he had been as good as what Motlop was the five seasons before he left.

Doesn’t suit the narrative though does it.

Retrospectively Motlop was worse than Israel Folau and pick 19 was actually pick 1.

 

[blueiris]

Back in the day, did anyone rate him?

As a fairly new AFL fan it's crazy he became one of the best ever

Different system clubs were able to draft father son in the 3rd round

 

[Xtreme]

Back in the day, did anyone rate him?

I still don't rate him!

 

[PhatBoy]

Different system clubs were able to draft father son in the 3rd round

He didn’t make the carnival team from the under 18 champs so it is doubtful if he didn’t have the name that he would have gone very high anyway.

Scarlett wasn’t rated all that high either but at least had it in his favour that he made the carnival team

 

[Partridge]

Probably played more good footy than anyone this century. His father was better by a mile.

My guess is GAJ was not underwhelming but didnt explode like Judd did at first because he hadn't grown into his massive strength.

At the time, Bigfooty trolls were giving it to Geelong people about not being instant Jesus , but even an outsider like me could see they had a potential star.

His skills and attributes were plainly good in every aspect of the game except marking (still fine, just not stellar). He was also fair and a good sport.

His skill level seemed unaffected much by pressure. He could be hammered (happened all the time later once once he went into the midfield), it didn't change much. That was impressive.

My impression at first was he was unfit (I recall thinking "hope he doesn't get his endurance right"-nek minnit) but fair to say he wasnt lazy, i think it was simply he took longer to grow into his body.

That's very well put. Too many instantly go for the "well he was lazy until he was told to shape up" which is complete mythology.

What was said was along the lines of "you are a good player, you're becoming a very good player, but if you really dedicate yourself, you could be a great player". He took the advice and went to another level. But it's a complete falsehood to say he was lazy or skipped training or any of that nonsense. Complete fantasy.

 

[Bostonian]

I remember watching him playing v NT in a game at Kardinia Park in 2001.

Xavier Clark and Bartel were more the hype players that day.

Ablett was ok but didn't stand out as anything amazing.

 

[crowman2]

Even after he'd been playing seniors for like 4 or 5 years there was nothing to suggest he'd become the star he did. I remember watching him in like 2005 and 2006 and thinking he was just a good, ordinary small forward.

2 years later... Bang

Still the best player I've ever seen play the game, including Carey, Lockett, Franklin, Williams etc

If Carey had played at GC they would have two flags