After three injury ravaged seasons, Gary Ablett has won his fourth Gold Coast best and fairest.
Despite only managing 14 games this season, Ablett finished the count on 126 votes, 20 ahead of second placed David Swallow, while Jack Martin finished third.
Ablett won the club's first three best and fairest awards from 2011 to 2013, before David Swallow (2014) and Tom Lynch (2015, '16) won the next three.
While Ablett struggled to get on the part at times this year, when he did, he looked to be back to close to his best. He averaged 33 disposals, the second most of his career after 2012, 7.6 clearances and 5.8 inside 50s.
During his acceptance speech, the 33-year-old refused to comment on his playing future, with the two-time Brownlow Medalist largely expected to once again request a trade home to Geelong.
"I've got a lot to think about over the next couple of weeks," Ablett said.
"The plan is just to get away from the pressures of football, go spend some time with family.
"I've been at the top level 16 years and I've got some other things going on in my life and I need to start prioritizing other things, so they're some of the things I need to talk through.
"That's something we'll work out in the next couple of weeks.
"I just want to be clear, I love this football club.
"I've been here for seven years, it's been such a big part of my life.
"It was a very tough decision moving away from family.
"I also feel like I've grown as a leader and person. I'd like to thank everyone at the club, especially the players that supported me being captain the first five or six years."
The win is Ablett's sixth best and fairest of his career, after winning two at Geelong, in 2007 and 2009.
Top 10 2017 Gold Coast Suns best and fairest
1st – Gary Ablett 126
2nd – David Swallow 106
3rd – Jack Martin 104
4th – Tom Lynch 101
5th – Aaron Hall 97
6th – Jarryd Lyons 91
7th – Jarrod Harbrow 79
8th – Touk Miller 70
9th – Steven May 66
10th – Adam Saad 64
