Official Merged Nathan Ablett threads

Will NAB be back?

  • Yes

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  • No

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  • I would REALLY like him too

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SJ

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Moderator #77
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

No, but I would love him too.

I've always thought, and still think, he has the potential to tear the competition apart.

I'll be disappointed if he leaves, but let the kid do what he wants with his life.
 

BIGANT

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#78
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

While the signs are there for NAB to take it to the next level, what value would Nathan be to the team in 08 after missing a good 5 weeks pre-season on top of the late start the cats have already had !?
 
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#79
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

I'm not surprised that this has happened, but I just have a feeling that he'll be able to see the practicalities in staying in it for longer. I reckon that's the only way anyone could 'sell' it to him - from a career/financial perspective.

If he doesn't, well good luck to him. He seems a highly sensitive guy and who knows, maybe he has a disposition towards depression too.
 

AM

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#80
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Ordinary year? Compared to many other players it might have been but I would have thought it was a season that suggested he was finally coming to terms with AFL footy. 30-odd goals was a solid return in most eyes.
Not sure how many games you saw Catman, but I can't recall one where he had any major impact. He showed a little more this season, especially defensively, but it wasn't a year of major improvement IMHO. Don't get me wrong, I'd hate to see him go as he may yet prove to be very good but on the basis of what he's shown to date he won't be a major loss - which was my point.
BTW. I've looked at the top 15 in the B&F and his name is nowhere to be seen and he played most games.

But it wasn't so it's a moot point.
Um, it was actually very relevant in the context of my point.
 

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#81
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

I'm not surprised that this has happened, but I just having a feeling that he'll be able to see the practicalities in staying in it for longer. I reckon that's the only way anyone could 'sell' it to him - from a career/financial perspective.

If he doesn't, well good luck to him. He seems a highly sensitive guy and who knows, maybe he has a disposition towards depression too.
couldn't have put it better myself:thumbsu:
 
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#82
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

i rekon this is a great thing for nathan. seriously if he doesn't want to do it he doesn't have to. i'd hate to relise one day when i'm older that i just watsed the best years of my life doing something i didn't want to do. all he really wanted to do was be a builder but GFC convinced him to play football. yer he's a great player and if he continues he could be even better. i just hope he makes that choice thats right for him. so i will support any decision he makes
 

cats2rise

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#83
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

It depends..
Has he wanted to retire, but the club told him to think about it?
Or has he just asked for a few months off? It sorta depends if gfc.com are right, or if the Herald Sun is right.

I hope for his sake, that he does not come back but really wants out. I would hate for him to not be 100% commited, but returns to the club to 'not let the club down' or anything like that.

Can the next poll be 'Should we have kept Henry Playfair?'
 

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#84
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Well Einstein the kid kicked 3 goals in a winning grand final side so he perfomed a lot better than you were ever going to give him credit for. You were noticeably absent with your praise of him for the grand final.
3 goals in a 120 point win?? So what? Our midfield gave him all the opportunities he could have wanted. How about all the games throughout the year when he averaged one goal per game in his 3rd season? Westhoff is a rookie, half his size and gave him a licking. By the way, 1 goal was from a bad free kick decision on the goal square.

If I am correct I think most people on here were arguing with you about his talent as a footballer, rather than his desire to play the game. You never rated him as a footballer first and foremost which I and most others here would take issue with.
No you actually couldn't be more wrong, nice try. Feel free to go back and read my posts and see for yourself. I always questioned his pace, aggression, toughness and his actual desire to be there etc, etc. Talent alone these days means nothing at the top level, NOTHING! Champion players work they're backsides off!! Look at Judd, Kerr, G.Ablett, Hird, Buckley, Voss etc... incredibly hard workers, yet very talented.

As regards his application and desire, well that is a completely different issue. That has always been a potential problem with Nathan, but has nothing to do with the FACT that he has the talent to be a very good AFL footballer.
Again, if you don't wanna be there talent means NOTHING! A professional athlete is successful because they have a huge desire to be successful. All but forcing a kid to join the club who never would have done off his own bat, the club deserves what they get.... simple as that.
 

FoxC

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#85
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

No, but I would love him too.

I've always thought, and still think, he has the potential to tear the competition apart.

I'll be disappointed if he leaves, but let the kid do what he wants with his life.
Exactly my sentiment. Well put.

Good luck to Nathan with whatever he wants to do.
 
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#86
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

I don't buy into this idea that Nathan's being selfish and should do the right thing by the club.

If, in the end, he decides to retire, then it would be the right decision for both him and the club.

Although I really want him to stay, if he isn't 100% motivated then I think he should definitely go. It wouldn't be healthy for the rest of the playing group.

I think it's been said before, but I'm sure he'll miss it more than he realises and he'll be back. In the end, he could be a better player for it.
 

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#87
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

3 goals in a 120 point win?? So what? Our midfield gave him all the opportunities he could have wanted. How about all the games throughout the year when he averaged one goal per game in his 3rd season? Westhoff is a rookie, half his size and gave him a licking. By the way, 1 goal was from a bad free kick decision on the goal square.



No you actually couldn't be more wrong, nice try. Feel free to go back and read my posts and see for yourself. I always questioned his pace, aggression, toughness and his actual desire to be there etc, etc. Talent alone these days means nothing at the top level, NOTHING! Champion players work they're backsides off!! Look at Judd, Kerr, G.Ablett, Hird, Buckley, Voss etc... incredibly hard workers, yet very talented.



Again, if you don't wanna be there talent means NOTHING! A professional athlete is successful because they have a huge desire to be successful. All but forcing a kid to join the club who never would have done off his own bat, the club deserves what they get.... simple as that.
I'm surprised it took you this long to come running in here to drop a big 'I told you so'.
 

year of the cat

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#88
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

3 goals in a 120 point win?? So what? Our midfield gave him all the opportunities he could have wanted. How about all the games throughout the year when he averaged one goal per game in his 3rd season? Westhoff is a rookie, half his size and gave him a licking. By the way, 1 goal was from a bad free kick decision on the goal square..
How many goals would he have had to kick before you were happy? How many did Westhoff kick in the grand final? Sorry can't hear you

By the way the free kick was there. You can't just barrel into someone without your eyes not on the ball.

Westhoff had an exceptional year for a tall rookie. He is more the exception than the rule. How many goals did Gumbleton, Hansen, Mitch Brown etc etc kick this year?


No you actually couldn't be more wrong, nice try. Feel free to go back and read my posts and see for yourself. I always questioned his pace, aggression, toughness and his actual desire to be there etc, etc. Talent alone these days means nothing at the top level, NOTHING! Champion players work they're backsides off!! Look at Judd, Kerr, G.Ablett, Hird, Buckley, Voss etc... incredibly hard workers, yet very talented. .

You questioned his football ability as well as his mental toughness and desire.

Again, if you don't wanna be there talent means NOTHING! A professional athlete is successful because they have a huge desire to be successful. All but forcing a kid to join the club who never would have done off his own bat, the club deserves what they get.... simple as that.

You will get no argument from me here. I agree he never would have been considered if not for his name. That is not his fault. There was always going to be an element of risk that Nathan may walk away from the game. However the club obviously thought that a risk worth taking. Seeing he was part of our first flag in 44 years I would say it paid off.

Finally, you seem to derive some peverse pleasure from observing Nathan's problems. I think that says a bit about you.
 

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#89
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

How many goals would he have had to kick before you were happy? How many did Westhoff kick in the grand final? Sorry can't hear you
Can't believe I have to spell this out to you... Port got a whipping all over the ground, of course Nathan is likely to score more. Don't judge a player from 1 game... pfft.. If Nath kicked 5 or 6 in a tough game that we won by 3 or 4 goals I would be impressed. Like someone else mentioned, he was barely instrumental in any of our wins in '07.

Westhoff had an exceptional year for a tall rookie. He is more the exception than the rule. How many goals did Gumbleton, Hansen, Mitch Brown etc etc kick this year?
How many games did they play? Plus they are rookies, Nath was in his 3rd season in the most dominant AFL team since 2000. That has no credibility at all... If someone like Playfair returned the stats that Nathan did in '07 you would be calling for his head!!

You questioned his football ability as well as his mental toughness and desire.
Find it then? Don't just make assumptions unless your going to back it up. Don't try and write your way out of a stupid post. You've already made yourself look the fool and are completely wrong and uninformed. Deal with it.

Finally, you seem to derive some peverse pleasure from observing Nathan's problems. I think that says a bit about you.
No. You fanboys just can't see past the fact that he isn't up to it because his name is Ablett. I'm just here to give you the reality check you need biatch!
 

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#90
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Can't believe I have to spell this out to you... Port got a whipping all over the ground, of course Nathan is likely to score more. Don't judge a player from 1 game... pfft.. If Nath kicked 5 or 6 in a tough game that we won by 3 or 4 goals I would be impressed. Like someone else mentioned, he was barely instrumental in any of our wins in '07.
Mate I'm not calling him the messiah. I am merely saying that he contributed to a winning grand final side. He was good for the first 10-11 games of them year then his form tailed off in the second half of the season. It was easily his best season so far. He probably would have been better next year.



How many games did they play? Plus they are rookies, Nath was in his 3rd season in the most dominant AFL team since 2000. That has no credibility at all... If someone like Playfair returned the stats that Nathan did in '07 you would be calling for his head!!
Maybe the fact that they weren't getting games showed that they didn't deserve them. You have argued against yourself here twat.


Find it then? Don't just make assumptions unless your going to back it up. Don't try and write your way out of a stupid post. You've already made yourself look the fool and are completely wrong and uninformed. Deal with it.
If I bothered to poll here I reckon you would win the fool award pretty comfortably. You are a little simple I dare say so I will forgive you.

No. You fanboys just can't see past the fact that he isn't up to it because his name is Ablett. I'm just here to give you the reality check you need biatch!

Not a fanboy. Just hoping that you may show a little balance in your argument. It is generally the unintelligeable that fail to be able to reason having said that.
 

foxdog50

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#91
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

Hmmm i hope he does, but time will tell.. If hr doesnt we have allways got TOMMAHAWK & LONERGAN
 
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#92
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

I'll be terribly disappointed if he leaves, he could have been anything (maybe that's the reason he's thinking about it, just so he doesn't reach the heights of fame that Gary snr did) i just hope that "if" he really does want a break that it is not for as long as 5 weeks of solid pre-season
ps. remember this is exactly the sort of thing Gary snr did when he played i.e early retirement, and he came back a little later and was as committed and as good as ever-if not better than before he left
Keep the Faith
 
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#93
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

.....maybe he has a disposition towards depression too.
That's a bit unnecessary. Let's put the mud away shall we.

I can't help but think that after some time away he will miss it. Particularly given the season he's just been involved in. With a bit of distance and perspective he'll see things in a new light.

In some respects it might be wise for the club to encourage him to take the whole year. Our list could cope with it. It would take the pressure off all concerned and give Nathan a chance to make a few life decisions. You can't really expect him do that in a few weeks.
 

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#94
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

i hope the kid figures out what he wants to do, and hopefully that includes winning a few more cups for the cats. It would be a shame for him to retire and then in 2 or 3 years wanna return and be drafted by another club.

I think Nathan just needs some time off, his old man did the same thing a few times during his career and a few of the aboriginal boys have done the same, so im not to scared.

If he doesn't come back will Geelong really regret letting Todd Grima go?
 

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#95
Re: Do you think Nathan will be back?

I'd really hate to see him leave without fulfilling his potential.

I just hope he realises, that no matter what else he wants to achieve in his life, his football career will give him greater traction to do that. A bit of time away might be good for him though.
 
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#96
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

This is so annoyng. Nablett has so much talent. He hasn't had a proper preseason and even if he does decide to play on he will have had another interrupted preseason. If he was commited he would be an absolute superstar
The thing is though, that is probably why he has done this, he doesn't want to be an absolute superstar (which is very sad but understandable)
 

catswhiskers

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#97
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

I haven't read all posts so forgive me if I state something already posted.

The NAB situation seems perfectly realistic if you keep the following in mind:

1. Gaz (snr) is about to launch a new book.
2. The above ensures all Ablett haters will be back in full voice (what I've
heard in the outer is disgraceful and its back)
3. The GFC has it act together at last
4. Nathan still is not ready to cope with the hatred head on


This suggests to me that he will withdraw for a time, maybe even all 2008 if things get really nasty. Further, the GFC may well be managing this. They have done very well of late dealing with personal issues.

If Nathan misses 2008 Hawkins and Gamble are ready to go. Maybe Harry T was drafted at a higher pick than expected because the cats wanted one more back up for NAB. wouldn't surprise.

Don't bag NAB. He has a medal and I have pretty worn out DVD of a premiership year. Sleep well in the knowledge the best footy played for years happened in 2007 and it was blokes in blue and white hoops doing it!!!
 

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#98
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

All I have to say is I TOLD YOU SO. The kid was never going to make it. His name and talent got him so far but when it came to the crunch... he walks. We can assume that considering it his 4th season at the club in '08, he was told to pick up the pace, get fit, get strong and work your backside off basically. To hard? It seems so.
What happened to the "he's gonna be a star", "I have no doubt he will be a champion"... blah, blah, blah...

Sorry to get up on the high horse but I've seen this coming for a long, long time and have been told I'm wrong for 2 years or so. SUCK IT UP all you people that said I was wrong. He doesn't have what it takes. You can't force someone to be a professional athlete... simple. He was carried all year in '07 and struggled to perform in the highest scoring and most dominant team we have seen for a long time.

Maybe I should go and drag out posts from the past to shove in your faces, like many of you love to do so much with the "i told you so" attached. Pfft.. nah, no point. You all know who you are... and you know that I was always right. :D
Are you sure you're a Geelong fan, or just a troll in disguise? Because you're the most negative prick around this forum besides Hodge2Franklin.

Anyway, who knows what's going to happen at this point. I am sure many of us remember 1991 when Gaz Sr retired and then came back at the midway point of the season. I suppose time will tell. It is just a shame that Nathan doesn't seem to have the passion or the will to play the game at the highest level - people just don't walk away like this otherwise. Whether he just needs a few weeks to collect himself or he's truly done, well we just wont know until it happens.

Let's hope he can pull himself together, though.
 

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#99
Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Because you're the most negative prick around this forum besides Hodge2Franklin.
Your post should have read as follows, just to assist you in the future:
Because you're the most realistic prick around this forum besides Hodge2Franklin.
 
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Re: N.Ablett having some time away

According to the article we can expect his decision after those drafts. So if he decides to leave we will be left high and dry.

I guess it depends the way you look at it re selfishness. Surely being a professional footballer wouldn't be hard to dedicate to. One look at the players rooms + Salary would be enough for me. Its not like he works outside of the club.

Yeh, and i hope one of them makes nathan realise he won't get a free ride like he has this year (to an extent)
I do not think Ablett making the decision before the draft would have effected the way Geelong went about it at all. They already were after key position players and none of them would have been able to replace Nathan in the team next year anyway. Pick 70 whatever would not have done much for the list.

Geelong now know it is a possibility that he will not be coming back to the club and it should be more clear to them close to the pre-season draft. If he retires they should be able to promote a rookie onto the list.

I would have thought it would be hard to dedicate your self to being a professional footballer but I don't see it at the physical pressures of the task but the mental ones for Nathan that is pushing him towards his uneasiness.
 
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