Toast THAT Ablett goal

[Shmoses]

You all know the one I'm talking about. That ridiculously precise drop punt from the boundary against Brisbane last year. Sharking the ball and burning off every Collingwood player before snapping truly and winning us the 07 prelim. Leaving three Port players face down and grasping at thin air in round 21 07. Running the length of Subi in mid 08 when we beat the Eagles by 135 points away. The run around and snap against North in 08. Stealing the ball from the kick in in the 07 GF. Ripping the ball out of the hands of about 4 Eagles players and snapping home in round 22 this year.
Could be Gary Sr. The one handed, left sided pick up and snap against Essendon. Grabbing the ball out of the ruck and kicking it in the 89 GF. The one where he fakes to snap on his right, makes two Richmond players fall over, and then effortlessly turns on to his left side and guides it home.
Doesn't even have to be a goal. Could be the receive from Scarlett's toe poke in last year's GF, then the run and launch that set up the winner, or even him ripping the ball from a pack in the same game late in the last quarter when a ball up seemed certain. Could be Gary Sr's mark over Pert or the iconic one against Essendon. Or the bump in the 89 GF that laid someone as tough as Dipper so low. It could even be Nathan's one handed mark in the 07 granny.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that we should be grateful for the involvement of this remarkable family in our club's recent history. If Gaz Jr leaves at the end of the year with three flags, three MVPs, a Brownlow and a Norm Smith, well, I'm gonna struggle to bare him any ill will.

 

[Scuderia]

Those Ablett goals

You're right though, we'll miss him if he goes..

 

[Claude Balls]

When you say Ablett and THAT goal, I think only of the '07 prelim.

 

[Shmoses]

When you say Ablett and THAT goal, I think only of the '07 prelim.

Haha, that's exactly what I mean: THAT Ablett goal would be different things to different people. To me it's the drop punt from the boundary last year. At that point in time he was on a different plane of existence to every other player.

 

[yebbo]

First of all dont get me wrong, I love Abletts and what they can do with that old Sherrin and I could add more to that list if I thought about it or looked at clips on youtube (great Ablett Snr ones on there)

I always thought his long kick from the toe poke was a mistake....obviously not how it turned out in the end and wasn't that the best moment in many of our mundane lives to date.

But I thought with the time, space and his accuracy he had he could have pinpointed a lead or someone like Chappy who must have been lurking in space and made it a certainty for a score. And in fact, waste another minute whilst whoever lines up.

It was lucky that the ball wasnt punched out of bounds or maybe even a free kick (you know how those umpires are with the Saints). But then again knowing the genius of Ablett he was banking on the big Rooke mark (who almost pulled it off) or the fist through for a point.

Whatever we won and the Saints didnt and could you imagine how bad it would be otherwise.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Realistically, when Ablett kicked after the Scarlett toepack I honestly thought it had that much legs on it it was going to go through a goal.

I'll still take what came from it anyway

 

[yebbo]

Actually just watching it again he could have run another few metres, I think he got spooked by King who he saw out of the corner of his eye cos he does this little baulk. The pressure of that moment would have been hardcore haha, it was for me at home.

I was thinking the other night that Geelong will miss Ablett, ealier in the year I always thought some new guy will come through, such as Taylor Hunt, and they will have more room in the salary cap.

But he adds so much to us really and even the Ablett name should stay synonymous with Geelong now for the same reason its not with Hawthorn.

The following Ablett things are my favourites

- The long goals from 55
- The shimmying through and around packs and the hand offs that never ever maybe rarely miss and hit the receiver to his BEST possible advantage
- The way he whacks back,quite violently, anyone who hits or scrags him first and then glares at them
- His important marks inside 50 and the shimmy to goal and his never ever okay maybe rarely missing low drop punts for a goal.

 

[yebbo]

Sorry getting carried away, and ive had a bit of a puff today getting ready for tonights match but watching that kick in the grand final, he got spooked my Scarlett who he sees run up beside him. Interesting.

I always loved how Scarlett was running like a big lion beside him guarding his way, the best moment ever until 5 seconds later when we see the ball kinda drift through the air on its way for what could only be a score to get us ahead.

 

[Hybrid7]

"That" Ablett goal for me was the 07 Grand Final steal one.

It was at a time in the match where it looked like Port were going to go toe to toe with us again and it was the turning goal that opened the flood gates.

To me it was pretty special - the lid well and truly came flying off at my place!!

 

[yebbo]

Agreed Hybrid, I can vividly picture it as well because you knew then we were going to kill them when it looked maybe the game could go either way.

The funny thing it was almost identical to the one he kicked a few rounds earlier against Port that put us up with a minute to go...until we lost.

To be honest the goal against Brisbane looked too easy for him and he would have been disappointed to miss, he did have space and I always thought the media made more of it compared to others he has kicked.

Right about him though being at the peak of his powers and a level above, thats the context of that goal for sure, like Akermanis against Geelong in the same pocket.

 

[PoidaCat]

I remember when Ablett snapped that goal in the '07 Prelim and I celebrated for about 1 minute and almost passed out. I was on an aisle seat and missed it when I went to sit back down. lulz.

 

[winty]

My "Ablett goal" would be the first goal he kicked in the 2004 semi against the Bombers. Dustin Fletcher unleashed a 60m bomb down the middle of the ground, but Geelong was ready for it. Ablett was roving at the front of the pack, sharked the crumbs, turned around and banged it back over Fletcher's head from 50m out. To me that was his arrival as a big game player, in the ilk of his old man.

 

[Rik E Boy]

When you say Ablett and THAT goal, I think only of the '07 prelim.

Showing my age Department. I was thinking of Senior's goal when he snaffled the ball from a ruck contest, spun around and kicked a goal in the 89 Granny.

regards,

REB

 

[Maydok]

"That" Ablett goal for me was the 07 Grand Final steal one.

It was at a time in the match where it looked like Port were going to go toe to toe with us again and it was the turning goal that opened the flood gates.

To me it was pretty special - the lid well and truly came flying off at my place!!

I'll never forget that one. That was THE moment we broke the drought.

You just knew when the son of the great man stole the ball and nailed it from 30, it was going to be our day. Finally!

 

[winty]

I'll never forget that one. That was THE moment we broke the drought.

You just knew when the son of the great man stole the ball and nailed it from 30, it was going to be our day. Finally!

The moment for me was when Otto ran down Pettigrew. You could pretty much see any resistance Port had evaporate as soon as the big fella dragged the Port guy to the deck.

 

[Maydok]

The moment for me was when Otto ran down Pettigrew. You could pretty much see any resistance Port had evaporate as soon as the big fella dragged the Port guy to the deck.

Yep, that was a moment of pure genius alright. That happened in front of me - i nearly jumped the fence to hug the big lug.

 

[Shmoses]

Great responses, I was hoping everyone would share their favourite Ablett moment. I remember the Brisbane drop punt, the Adelaide left footed snap at AAMI from the 'dead pocket' and the Melbourne goal within nine seconds all as a big group because that was while he was completely untouchable as a player. I've never seen such an absurd run of dominance from one player.

Showing my age Department. I was thinking of Senior's goal when he snaffled the ball from a ruck contest, spun around and kicked a goal in the 89 Granny.

Yeah, I put that one in the OP cause that's one of my favourite bits of footage from Sr's career. It was slightly too early for me (was 3 at the time), but it perfectly embodies Gaz Sr.
Another one I've thought of was the other one against Brisbane at KP in 07, at the other end, where he puts the afterburners on, speeds off Lappin and kicks truly in the bog. Also at the end of last year when Sydney were coming hard at us at ANZ and he walked through a tackle to kick one in the goal square.

 

[winty]

How about Ablett senior's goal against Collingwood on a sodden MCG in 1989? Flew for a mark at centre half forward but dropped it, wheeled around, picked up the loose ball, pushed Robert Scott out of the way and slotted a goal from 50m out on the boundary.

I remember another one against Carlton at the MCG on a wet day in 1992. No one else that day had the audacity to even attempt to bounce the ball, but Gaz grabbed the ball on the wing, took two bounces and slammed home a goal from 55m out.

Then there was the goal against the Dogs in the 1992 qualifying final when he took two steps and banged home a 55m goal on his non-preferred foot.

 

[Shmoses]

How about the lazy one handed mark on the siren in the 94 prelim, then subsequent goal to put us in the GF?

 

[Shmoses]

How about Ablett senior's goal against Collingwood on a sodden MCG in 1989? Flew for a mark at centre half forward but dropped it, wheeled around, picked up the loose ball, pushed Robert Scott out of the way and slotted a goal from 50m out on the boundary.

Is that the 'what more can you say?' goal?

 

[winty]

Is that the 'what more can you say?' goal?

It certainly is!

 

[yebbo]

Thats the Sandy Roberts comment haha, I was at that game and remember how eerily dark it became and Ablett turned it on....poetic really.

I'm glad this thread turned to SNR, the mark of the century, I was at that game too and that was a mark, the umpire had to pay it out of emotion. Much like he didnt have to pay fridays night decision cos it was emotionally scarring for us. To see Ablett rise over players always was exciting.

I remember being behind the goals at Princess Park in Abletts return from retirement in the reserves. I woulda been about 14 early 90's or whenever it was and as we were down low you could barely see Ablett in the centre of the ground with a man on the mark (you can guess what happened next)

He unleashed a big torp and I swear this is so vivid to me the ball was monstrous in the air and come down and hit the top of the goal post on the very top. The bizarre thing a seagull had been there a few seconds before and it hit the very top, this huge kick.

Maybe he meant it we will never know haha. Actually if anyone can confirm this, maybe not the seagull I'm sure noone saw that but I swear its true.

I'm 100% sure it was the comeback game but the memory can play tricks on you and pretty sure it was after a siren at the old scoreboard end...left of end.

Theres also a clip on youtube in one of those montages of Ablett Snr kicking a torp goal to the same end of Princess Park, i thught it was the one I described b4 at first, it was also from the f-en centre, a few steps and then booooom

 

[volcboy]

Is that the 'what more can you say?' goal?

Thirded. I watched that sail through from behind the goals in the Southern Stand. The large Greek Collingwood supporter that had been screaming abuse at Ablett and my mother all day (Ablett = '*******'; My mother should 'get back in the kitchen') from the seat next to us promptly got up and left, never to return

 

[Gavin Excell]

I'd like toi nominate a G Ablett senior point.

In that famous 89 prelim v Essendon - he got the ball basically on the wing and kicked a 90m point was unbeleivable. It followed not long after Comettis(?) comment that the mark he took wasn't so much a mark, but a party trick.

Re Junior - the goal in the 07 GF - when he kicked and pumped his fist - sure he was staring straight at me in the 11th row from the fence. Yeah I know Gary - was critical.

 

[vjknight]

I remember another one against Carlton at the MCG on a wet day in 1992. No one else that day had the audacity to even attempt to bounce the ball, but Gaz grabbed the ball on the wing, took two bounces and slammed home a goal from 55m out.

sorry for dropping in on ya thread guys, but had to get in on this.

i was there that day in 92, and thats the day that typifies how good snr was. it was wet, windy - a real miserable day. every player on the ground couldnt bounce, couldnt mark, kicked awful, handballed atrocious - except for one. he bounced and ran at will, kicked the ball over 50m with ease - did what he pleased. that day his skills shone because no one else got close.

that mark over pert - what i appreciated was this over 30's guy leaping onto perts shoulders at the 29 min mark of the final qtr - why wasnt he tired, why wasnt he off the ground resting - cos he was who he was. the blind pies supporters near me booing and crying 'no mark' - and im standing there marvelling at what id seen.

at princes park vs fitzroy - 94 or 95 - go to see gazza kick a dozen and tear it up. he lines up in the centre, and im drooling at whats coming. the ump bounces, theres a pack, then suddenly these hoops burst thru the pack, one bounce and a torp - GOAL. then heartache - limps off with a sore hammy. the rest of the day i spent in the tab downstairs.

with the style of play these days, highlights like these just dont happen anymore - from one player anyway.