Gold Coast star Gary Ablett has written an open letter to the footy world explaining why he wants to return home to Geelong.
Ablett officially requested a trade back to the Cats a fortnight ago, following seven years at the Suns.
In that time, Ablett has won a Brownlow Medal, four club best and fairest awards, two AFLPA MVPs, two club leading goal kicking awards and has been named in the All-Australian side on four occasions.
However, after failing to help the club reach finals, the 33-year-old has requested a trade back to Geelong, where he started his career and won two premierships.
Ablett has made no secret of the fact he intends to return to the Cats to be closer to hsi family, but the star midfielder has revealed just how tough it became for him living away from his loved ones.
Writing for his newly launched website, Exclusive Insight, Ablett says he can no longer do "long distance" with his family.
"Now married and looking to start a family, my priorities have shifted. I need to be around my family back home, who I have spent the last 7 years doing long distance with," Ablett wrote.
"My sisters, my brother, and parents all play a huge role in my life, and it’s time that I make myself more available to them and others back home.
"I am at a stage in my career where I need to get the balance right between footy and life outside of football, and the recent break period has allowed me the time that I needed to put certain things in place."
However, despite leaving the Sun with a year still to run on his contract, Ablett says he has no regrets about leaving the Cats at the end of 2010.
"People will wonder whether I regret my decision signing with the Gold Coast Suns. I can promise you, that is simply not true," Ablett added.
"Although I am requesting for my time to come to an end on the Gold Coast, there is absolutely nothing that I would have done differently.
"The Gold Coast Football Club has played an essential role in the man and football player that I am today.
"It has allowed me to grow as a player and as a leader. I have built great relationships and have made lifelong friends. Coming to this decision has been extremely tough because, like most people, I don’t like disappointing others.
"However, I’ve learnt that unfortunately in life you can’t make everybody happy.
"As a footy club we have been through so many ups and downs. I know how hard the players, coaching staff, and administration have worked through that process. If blood, sweat and tears count for anything, we should have had much more success on-field.
"Nobody wanted that more than me. I said from day one that it was about winning a premiership and playing finals football.
"Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to achieve that. This hurts. But, I also have total faith in the Gold Coast Suns. I’m confident that the football club is heading in the right direction and are not a long way off from achieving that success."
