No third coming for Cats this season
Greg Denham
The Australian ,
May 12, 2005
GEELONG yesterday cleared the air and declared Gary Ablett's 19-year-old son Nathan would not play at the elite level this year.
Ablett, a surprise recruit last year after being reluctant to follow in the footsteps of his famous father and elder brother Gary Jnr, has asked to play out his first year with the Cats in the VFL.
Coach Mark Thompson said yesterday he had no intention of playing Nathan Ablett in the seniors this year.
"When he came here we said 'get used to the VFL environment', he wanted to do that, and nothing's changed since," Thompson said.
"It's probably good for everyone to come out in the open because we get asked every week when he's going to play in the seniors. The rumours and speculation have been rife and they haven't helped anyone, especially Nathan."
The conjecture surrounding Ablett came to a head in round two when Geelong's VFL team had a bye and the Cats took him to Perth with their travelling party to "acclimatise" to the routine of interstate games.
Ablett was not named in Geelong's 22 or as an emergency, yet he was chased through Perth Airport by media who speculated he would be a late inclusion, despite denials from Thompson.
"Nathan's not playing well enough and he's not ready," Thompson said. "More than likely, he won't play this year. And there's other boys in the VFL who are way in front of him. He's big enough (194cm), but his body is not quite ready and he's not strong enough at the moment. He really has a lot to learn about the game and the pressure."
Thompson said many Geelong fans expected too much too early. "Gary (Jnr) played first-up after being drafted and the perception was that Nathan would follow," Thompson said. "He was never going to be a walk-up start.
"There's no question Nathan's taken a step forward this season, but it's important in our system that every player gets treated equally."
Ablett has played five games in the VFL this season, mainly as a key-forward, but has spent some time in defence. He is viewed by the third-placed Cats as a centre half-forward of the future, but Thompson said he was satisfied with Geelong's present structure at senior level where Henry Playfair, Charlie Gardiner and occasionally Ken Kingsley rotate through centre half-forward.
"We basically want to take the pressure off Nathan," Thompson said. "He wants to have a year in the reserves to feel his way, and we're not opposed to that."
Ablett was recruited via the father-son rule in last November's national draft with overall selection No.48. His brother was also a third-round, father-son choice in 2001.
Gary has played 62 of a possible 76 games since his debut in round one, 2002. Nathan, unlike his brother who came through the under-18 TAC Cup system, preferred to play locally with Modewarre, a small district outside Geelong, in the Ballerine Football League.
At the time, Thompson said Geelong would treat the latest Ablett with kid gloves.
"We just have to take the most delicate road we have ever taken before with any junior player," Thompson said then.
Further pressure could be placed on Nathan if his father - dubbed God - is this year inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.