Gold Coast star Gary Ablett revealed to the nation on Thursday night that 2017 may well be his final season in the AFL.
Ablett looked a stressed and distracted individual, as he confirmed he is battling serious family issues. The issues saw him request a trade back home to Geelong at the end of last season and will likely see him do the same again at the end of this season.
โThis may be my last season,โ Ablett told The Footy Show last night.
โIโve got some things going on in my life that Iโm not going to elaborate on, but theyโre my number one priority at the moment.
โI said to the club that Iโm super committed to this year and that Iโm going to give it everything but I donโt know what 2018 holds for me.
โIโll sit down with the club at the end of the year, weโll talk through that and weโll work out what the next step is."
His comments mean one thing. He almost certainly will not be at the Suns in 2018.
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By stating in public that he essentially does not want to be at the club next year, not based on footballing matters, but on personal matters it must be stressed, he has held the club to ransom and backed them into a corner.
The nation and the footy world now know Ablett's feelings thanks to an honest and forthright interview.
He has essentially told the Suns; allow me a trade back home to Geelong, or risk losing me for nothing at all.
If Gold Coast once again refuses to trade their marquee man, who was promised the world, but was delivered very little, then the club will be seen as insensitive and at the same time, why would you want to keep a player on your list who clearly does not want to be there?ย His performances will suffer as a result, which we have already seen.
While the Suns' position is understandable and they want to either retain their star player or ensure they receive adequate compensation, they simply cannot refuse to trade Ablett, or they will simply lose him for nothing, as it has become quite clear he will not be there for another year if he would prefer to be elsewhere.
The sticking point will be the trade itself. The Suns will want a lot in return for Ablett.
However, at 33, and past his prime, how much is he really worth?
Geelong also cannot trade away its first round draft pick, as it has already traded away its first round pick from 2015, 2016 and 2017 in order to secure Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson and Zach Tuohy.
Under the League's rules for trading future picks, a club must activate at least two first roundย picks within a four year cycle.
If Geelong fail to do so the the club could receive sanctions from the AFL, including potential trade restrictions.
The Cats may be able secure Ablett without giving up a first round pick, however, they are unlikely to be able to sign him as easily as Melbourne recruited Jordan Lewis or West Coast recruited Sam Mitchell.
Melbourne sent picks 48 and 66 to Hawthorn and received Lewis, as well as picks 57 and 68, while Mitchell joined West Coast virtually for pick 88.
Gold Coast will play hard ball for their contracted star. However, play too hard, and they risk losing Gazza for nothing at all if he retires.
If that does eventuate, it would not be beyond the realms of possibility for Ablett to retire from the game, only to return and sign with Geelong if he wants to continue playing footy.
