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Ablett attitude could be the key
Posted Aug 13, 2010 - 13:54 PM
By Mr Dandalooa
The Gold Coast will keep giving 24-year-old former Geelong premiership forward Nathan Ablett a chance to prove his worth to play at the new AFL club next year.
Ablett has lost his form during the VFL season, but news reports this week suggest if there is one thing that has improved recently is his attitude and that seems to have impressed Suns coach Guy McKenna.
McKenna reckons there have been encouraging signs, but apparently it is still not enough for the club to offer the 2007 premiership forward a contract.
Ablett will know where his future lies soon after as the season is over.
“We have to sit down with the recruiting department and make sure we are crystal clear on our assessments on the boys and anyone with a question mark we have to have a look at them,” McKenna was reported as saying.
“Nathan obviously will come in after being crook last week and we have to make an assessment on him still.
“For example, we want to see if Nathan can earn his spot at full forward for us.
“It’s about giving him the best opportunity. For a six foot, four (inch) premiership forward there’s some latitude there.We have to make sure the decision we make on Nathan, like all the other boys, is that they have been given enough opportunities.
“He’s sorted out those (mental) demons and he’s vibrant and lively. He’s actually starting to spike up.”
Ablett is the youngest son of Gary Ablett, Sr. and the younger brother of Gary Ablett, Jr.
Although a standout junior footballer, Ablett chose not to play in the TAC Cup to avoid the media attention which accompanied the preceding careers of his father and brother.
After spending a year playing in country leagues, Ablett agreed to sign for Geelong under the league’s father-son rule and was selected with the 49th overall pick in the 2004 AFL Draft.
Ablett made his AFL debut in 2005, and was part of the premiership-winning side in 2007.
However, he announced his retirement from professional football at the conclusion of the 2007 season, citing a lack in desire to continue playing at the top level.
Ablett debuted midway through the 2005 AFL season after beginning his professional football career with the Geelong reserves team in the VFL.
He showed improvement as a player at the end of the 2006 season in the VFL team which contested the Grand Final.
By 2007, Ablett cemented his position in the senior squad at full forward, and helped the Cats capture the 2007 AFL Premiership, booting three goals in the record-breaking Grand Final win.
On November 30 2007, Ablett announced he was considering retirement from the game at the age of only 21, citing a lack of continuing passion for the game.
This was not without precedent, as Ablett walked away from his TAC Cup team in 2003, but was eventually convinced to return to top level competition.
Having been given until the start of 2008 to make a decision, Ablett decided on January 7 2008 to walk away from AFL for at least one year, but didn’t rule out a possible return at some stage.
