Official Merged Nathan Ablett threads

[sarah.13]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Tom didn't play until after the PA game. His first game back was in he magoos at SS.

Pointless producing facts to argue against the ranting and ravings of the almighty Martyk. The man is never wrong
The club, players and most of the supporters are aware of his enormous contribution to the 2007 flag.

 

[jim boy]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

For the record, Harley injured his finger in that Round 1 game and didn't play for the next 6 or 7 weeks. I don't think he played prior to the round 6 Richmond game - in fact I don't think he played in Round 6. Partridge will know, he has a freak memory for details like that.

Injured early in the match against the dogs, spent time on the sidelines and then one or two weeks in the VFL team. At the time he made no apologies about his lack of AFL fitness as he rightly pointed out, you don't get AFL match fit in the VFL. Spent probably one week readjusting to the tempo.

Text book recovery.

 

[noclashjumpers]

Quite frankly you're just making up the 'more severe' connotations, maybe if I'd used the term 'nutter' it may have been worse, but I didn't. Really all it says, colloquially, is that he is very keen on religion to the the point where it influences the decisions he makes on life, which in Nathan's case is beyond dispute.

I'm flattered you think I have influence to 'make up' the social context of words and phrases.

 

[martyk]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

The club, players and most of the supporters are aware of his enormous contribution to the 2007 flag.

Just like this comment, much of what you post is pointless. If your not going along with the crowd, your posting meaningless rubbish. How does the fact that I think Harley came back to early have anything to do with not recognising his contribution to the premiership in '07?

Just because I'm getting everyone peeved at the moment, don't think you can just follow suit without posting something worthwhile.

 

[Partridge]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

For the record, Harley injured his finger in that Round 1 game and didn't play for the next 6 or 7 weeks. I don't think he played prior to the round 6 Richmond game - in fact I don't think he played in Round 6. Partridge will know, he has a freak memory for details like that.

Pretty sure his first game back was against St.Kilda in round 10. So he missed 8 games in total. Made up for it once he was back though.

 

[martyk]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Pretty sure his first game back was against St.Kilda in round 10. So he missed 8 games in total. Made up for it once he was back though.

Yes he did, I remember that game at the dome. When Egan came off the ground for 10 mins, Harley went to Reiwoldt and he tore Harley a new arseh*le... all while the game was in the balance towards the start.

 

[year of the cat]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Yes he did, I remember that game at the dome. When Egan came off the ground for 10 mins, Harley went to Reiwoldt and he tore Harley a new arseh*le... all while the game was in the balance towards the start.

Just out of curiosity, have you made a point or given an opinion that you now believe has been proven wrong or incorrect? If so, name it.

 

[WE Are Geelong]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Yes he did, I remember that game at the dome. When Egan came off the ground for 10 mins, Harley went to Reiwoldt and he tore Harley a new arseh*le... all while the game was in the balance towards the start.

I could well be the only one that finds you amusing at times Marty...but I got a laugh out of that...

The other humourous bit is we went onto win the game by 10 goals against the Saints...pretty much making your point about Harley returning too soon to the side as relevant as a truck load of sheep's balls to a vegetarian...

 

[martyk]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

I could well be the only one that finds you amusing at times Marty...but I got a laugh out of that...

The other humourous bit is we went onto win the game by 10 goals against the Saints...pretty much making your point about Harley returning too soon to the side as relevant as a truck load of sheep's balls to a vegetarian...

Correct you are... but where would the fun be if I stated that fact?

... + Thompson learned his lesson and put the gun (Egan) back on Reiwoldt who had minimal influence from then on.
Not hard to see why Harley very rarely gets the dangerous forwards is it? The bloke is a great leader and exceptional at being the 3rd man to a contest and taking marks.. other than that......

like the sheep's balls comment

 

[sarah.13]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

Correct you are... but where would the fun be if I stated that fact?

... + Thompson learned his lesson and put the gun (Egan) back on Reiwoldt who had minimal influence from then on.
Not hard to see why Harley very rarely gets the dangerous forwards is it? The bloke is a great leader and exceptional at being the 3rd man to a contest and taking marks.. other than that......

like the sheep's balls comment

A sense of humour Martyk, well done!!

 

[Larry Donahue]

Back to the subject... if it hasn't been said already (can't be bothered reading 13 pages) I don't have a huge problem with NAB going bush.

He's always been reluctant to play and that obviously hasn't changed. The resources required to maintain his interest could certainly be better spent. He did have a good year and when you're a frustrated footballer (like most of us) it's hard to understand why you wouldn't want to seize the opportunity of playing on at the highest level. It's that waste of talent that I think most people struggle to come to grips with.

But if he still feels that way after his break we've got a few handy replacements waiting to step up. If Tomahawk reaches a fraction of his potential next year could you see NAB getting picked ahead of him? And there's Lonergan and H.Taylor that could all surpass Nate.

It would be good to see him play on but I don't sense any panic among Cats supporters right now.

 

[Cattery]

Re: N.Ablett having some time away

The bloke is a great leader and exceptional at being the 3rd man to a contest and taking marks.. other than that......

Other then that he took about one and a half matches to hit form upon his return, after which he beat practically every opponent he was assigned, smalls, mids and talls, produced his best season for years and was a major factor in our success, not bad for a bloke who according to you was going to be a passenger all year ..... "dead wood, chop it down" ..... those words ring any bells with you?

 

[Partridge]

But if he still feels that way after his break we've got a few handy replacements waiting to step up. If Tomahawk reaches a fraction of his potential next year could you see NAB getting picked ahead of him?

It would be good to see him play on but I don't sense any panic among Cats supporters right now.

Right now yes - he's a better player.

I've said it before, assuming everyone is fit I'd have Mooney, Hawkins AND Nathan Ablett all in the side, and all on the ground. Of course it may be a moot point now.

 

[year of the cat]

Right now yes - he's a better player.

I've said it before, assuming everyone is fit I'd have Mooney, Hawkins AND Nathan Ablett all in the side, and all on the ground. Of course it may be a moot point now.

The loss of Nathan would also put pressure on our depth of key forwards. One of our strengths last season was the pressure that Hawkins, Gardiner and to a lesser extent Playfair and Lonergan were putting on Nathan. With 3 of these players gone the competition for positions is suddenly much reduced.

Whilst it is probably not a reasonable representation of his overall benefit to the team, watching the season's highlights DVD the other night, I was surprised how much Nathan was involved particularly in the first half of the season. He provided a good target and link man at CHF. Whilst his stats may have been modest, he was regularly contributing to the scoreboard and involved in others goals being scored. I reckon his loss may have a bigger effect than we may realise now.

 

[Asty]

Of course the other down side is that if he doesn't play on we do not have access to his sons as he hasn't reached the 100 mark.

 

[SJ]

Right now yes - he's a better player.

I've said it before, assuming everyone is fit I'd have Mooney, Hawkins AND Nathan Ablett all in the side, and all on the ground. Of course it may be a moot point now.

Spot on.

 

[bigdroppunt]

did anybody catch the bit in the addy today about nathan, I think it was from crackers, Its was nice and was the best thing i have read about this whole thing, if sombody has it please post,

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I don't mind that he's gone. Doesnt fit into our future plans to be honest.

 

[martyk]

I don't mind that he's gone. Doesnt fit into our future plans to be honest.

I would say he isn't essential to our structure. Replaceable anyway. I just hope Hawkins gets himself in shape sooner rather than later.

 

[bomba4eva]

Best if he does retire as he is the most undeserving player in VFL/AFL history to have won a premiership medallion. Never saw the talent in him, and was surprised Hawkins didnt get a game ahead of him and even more surprised that Nablett survived until the Grand Final. He won his medal and should feel very lucky. Good on him for getting there, but he is doing the best thing for Geelong by retiring so now you will be able to throw Hawkins in there to get experience and wont have to delist an Ablett which would be unthinkable.

 

[rizzo]

Best if he does retire as he is the most undeserving player in VFL/AFL history to have won a premiership medallion. Never saw the talent in him, and was surprised Hawkins didnt get a game ahead of him and even more surprised that Nablett survived until the Grand Final. He won his medal and should feel very lucky. Good on him for getting there, but he is doing the best thing for Geelong by retiring so now you will be able to throw Hawkins in there to get experience and wont have to delist an Ablett which would be unthinkable.

haha Essendon supporter calling our forwards untalented. Courtney Johns *Cough*. Ablett has huge amounts of talent. How many players do you no that have played country football (not even best league in geelong) and become AFL players within 2 years?

 

[MmkMrMackie]

haha Essendon supporter calling our forwards untalented. Courtney Johns *Cough*. Ablett has huge amounts of talent. How many players do you no that have played country football (not even best league in geelong) and become AFL players within 2 years?

No... I think the hammer is pretty close to the nail with what he said. Ablett was lucky to survive, and if it wasn't for the impact his departure might have had on Gaz, I don't reckon he would've been there in the last week in September.

It was a massive effort to become an AFL footballer (if you could call him that) in a few years, but the only reason he got the opportunity was because his name was Ablett. Therefore, it was, as the Essendon poster said, rather undeserving.

 

[cat in sydney]

No... I think the hammer is pretty close to the nail with what he said. Ablett was lucky to survive, and if it wasn't for the impact his departure might have had on Gaz, I don't reckon he would've been there in the last week in September.

It was a massive effort to become an AFL footballer (if you could call him that) in a few years, but the only reason he got the opportunity was because his name was Ablett. Therefore, it was, as the Essendon poster said, rather undeserving.

Perhaps that's a fair summation, however, we need to remember that Nathan never asked to play for Geelong. The Cats chased him and convinced him to play, so for him to play a few years, keep up with the big boys and kick 30+ goals in a season shows that the guy has pretty impressive skills.
So, was it undeserving? It's pretty harsh to say that considering he never wanted to play in the first place.

 

[Partridge]

No... I think the hammer is pretty close to the nail with what he said. Ablett was lucky to survive, and if it wasn't for the impact his departure might have had on Gaz, I don't reckon he would've been there in the last week in September.

It was a massive effort to become an AFL footballer (if you could call him that) in a few years, but the only reason he got the opportunity was because his name was Ablett. Therefore, it was, as the Essendon poster said, rather undeserving.

Ok......(deep breath).........

Given some of the comments on here, you would think Ablett is the worst player to ever pull on the Geelong guernsey. Which is patently wrong.

Fact 1: He's only played 32 games.

I would love to go through the first 32 games of Fevola, Hall, Pavlich, Brown and everyone else, and see exactly how their stats compared at the same time. I'm not saying Ablett will be a superstar of the competition, but given how his older brother broke out in his sixth season, I tend to think making sweeping judgements after only 3 years (2 and a bit really) is premature.

Fact 2: He had his best season for Geelong in 2007 and deserved his premiership medal. He kicked 34 goals. More than anyone except Mooney and Steve Johnson. Not a bad effort I would have thought.

Yes he played some poor games (eg round 20 v North, Prelim final v Collingwood), but what's conveniently forgotten is he also played some good ones. For example Round 1 v Bulldogs, Round 2 v Carlton, Round 21 v Port, QF v North, GF v Port Adelaide. So to make a sweeping judgement that he was a passenger all season, and in September, is grossly unfair and incorrect.

He certainly needs to improve further, especially his strength and conditioning. But he's not quite the lump of dead wood some people insinuate.

 

[WE Are Geelong]

He certainly needs to improve further, especially his strength and conditioning. But he's not quite the lump of dead wood some people insinuate.

Are you doing yoga or some form of zen meditations Partridge?...a consertedly, controlled response...I did notice the deep breath at the beginning...perhaps rebirthing?...

Anyway back to your post which was an easy read. People can disagree but you cant ignore certain simple facts or stats. If you compared Mooney's first 32 games with the Cats...they wouldnt read anywhere near as well as NAB's yet look where he is now...yes we are an infinitely better side than way back then but cant NAB be part of the reason we are better? The kid held down CHF in a premiership season...people who try to discount this achievement at 21 obviously havent played much footy at CHF...let alone a whole season up against the big boys.

In the end I only highlighted your last 2 lines because it does tell more of the full story. Yes NAB has not peaked. Strength and Conditioning over a further full 2 pre seasons would have seen him double his possession count by the end of the decade and been a 50 goal CHF. They dont grow on trees you know. In fact in any given season there will be less than 10 guys total who could be even able to achieve such a thing from CHF...not full forward...thats CHF...and less than half of those guys will actually ever achieve it in the same season. There's a stat for the baggers to consider.

Why?...I will break it down very simply...because its an extremely difficult position to fill for an entire season and there are 21 guys relying on you every week to do a specific job hardly anybody in the competition out of over 600 AFL listed players can actually fulfill on a weekly basis.

My final point is...does it ever occur to people who are constantly bagging NAB what he might actually be like IF he was fully committed to the game? Its obvious he's not...and hasnt been from day one...just think about that for a moment before mistaking a thoroughbred CHF talent for a so called 'hack'...it's getting tiresome listening to it all day.