Oh Poo!

[jim boy]

From todays real footy

Young Ablett avoids path to AFL
By Stephen Rielly
February 14 2003


Nathan Ablett, son of Gary, rejected approaches to pursue an AFL career.


Because it is true that people often pay an extortionate price for an exceptional gift, Nathan Ablett has chosen to keep his hands in his pockets.

The tall, 17-year-old second son of Gary Ablett has decided that, for now at least, he has no further interest in playing the game that gave and asked so much of his brilliant, troubled father, introduced his uncles Geoff and Kevin to football fame and is now the chosen career of his older brother, Gary jnr.

Courted by the Geelong Falcons, tracked with no small amount of interest by Geelong and assured of an AFL opportunity at the least, Ablett has retreated to his local club Modewarre, where, of all things, he might run messages for his under-18s coach this year.

The decision was confirmed to Michael Turner last Monday night, a fortnight after the former Geelong wingman was initially told of Ablett's resolution.

On that first occasion, on January 27, Ablett returned to pre-season training with the Falcons to break the news by handing back a $15 training T-shirt.

Turner, these days manager of the Falcons, and coach Damien Christensen convinced Ablett, who they say is reminiscent of former Falcon Jonathan Brown at the same age, to rethink his decision and speak with his parents and brother.

An Ablett by name he is but not, apparently, by nature. The price his father paid to play, the places it took him, such as the life of a recluse, religion and bouts of excess and infamy, he has never wanted to pay.

As such, he intends to complete a pre-apprenticeship course this year in the hope of becoming a builder. In every sense, it seems, he wants to keep his life in his own hands.

Eight months ago, his coach at Modewarre, Robert Cameron, said with some foresight: "He's a pleasure to coach and has the ability to go all the way if he chooses.

"He's also a fine young man but I do feel for him with all this attention he's under.

"All he's done is be sired by the greatest footballer to ever play and that wasn't his doing."

Turner, who worked on family and friends of Ablett's last year to woo him to the Falcons, concurs.

"We thought he was going to be with us - he didn't miss any of the 15 sessions we held before Christmas - but it just doesn't seem to be the life he wants," Turner said. "And it doesn't matter how much talent you've got, you've got to want to play, to do it. At this point, Nathan doesn't, although we've certainly left the door open for a return any time this year."

 

[ScouseCat]

One has to feel for the kid... all of this pressure on him at such a young age and I'm not surprised to see he's taken time out. Hopefully he does decide to follow in his brother's footsteps... it could work out to Geelong's advantage anyway with Nathan taking some time out. This could allow us to draft both Blake and Ablett under the father-son rule in the next 2 seasons.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Ah well, we can't miss something we never had.

Come on down Mark Blake, this is your time

 

[catattack]

That's bad news. He did look like he was going to be an excellent player! But the pressure obviously is just too much.

I suppose, he has made the best decision for now, and if he can have time to think about it, then maybe he may change his mind.

But we have to support his choice.


Go Cats!!
catattack

 

[you_idiot]

Originally posted by phatandphreaky
Ah well, we can't miss something we never had.

That's fair enough.

Gary Sr.'s got two of his relatives playing AFL footy right now, or at least the potential to do so, and the other kid's got his own life to look after-- and if he doesn't want to follow the same path as the others and thereby carve out his own identity with another path, then it's his life, and his choice.

Also, judging from the throng of people around Gary Ablett Jr. at the Geelong "Country Day" in Ballarat this afternoon-- easily twice or three times as much as any other player of the eleven or so that was at Bridge Mall-- you can see that his popularity is there, and quite likely due to having the "Ablett" name. Gary Jr.'s quite talented, too, but having the name helps, certainly.

Cheers,
William

 

[goal_umpire]

Geelong can't have all the abletts playing for their side.

 

[JUBJUB]

Originally posted by suzi_olsen
Geelong can't have all the abletts playing for their side.

What the .... ?

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by suzi_olsen
Geelong can't have all the abletts playing for their side.

We don't want all the Ablett's playing for our team, just Gary's 2 sons if they choose to play AFL football.

 

[Bakes]

I reckon him running the water will reinstate some interest in the game. Ask anyone who plays, running water when injured or resting is the most frustrating thing.