GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JULY 01: Gary Ablett of the Suns warms up before the round 15 the Gold Coast Suns and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium on July 1, 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Geelong coach Chris Scott has told Melbourne radio station SEN on Friday that a deal for Gold Coast superstar and former Cat Gary Ablett now seems "unlikely".
After leaving Geelong for the Suns at the end of the 2010 season, Ablett expressed his desire to come home during last season's trade period, but Gold Coast would not let their former captain leave.
Scott and the Cats have shown interest in facilitating a return to Geelong for Ablett for most of the season to date, although given the deal Geelong would have to put on the table for the 33-year-old, Scott believes there could be too many hoops to jump through.
“It is unlikely to be perfectly frank,” Scott told SEN on Friday.
“It is a question that should be directed to (list manager) Stephen Wells. At the moment, it looks like there are too many obstacles for it to happen.
“In very, very simple terms would we prefer Gary Ablett to be in our team. Yes.
“He would help. The question is what impact does it have on others, is he prepared to play the role we want? There is a bit to work through before you even jump the hurdle of list management issues.”
Like deals for veterans Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis last season, the Cats were hoping to swap a late pick for Ablett, and were hoping to reportedly pay the superstar under $500,000 a season.
That doesn't look to be the case anymore, with the Suns wanting a fair trade consisting of a quality player, and potentially the Cats to also pay some of Ablett's salary.
Scott still made it clear he would take Ablett in a perfect world, which would likely allow for Patrick Dangerfield to play as a permanent forward.
“We said for a long time such is the value we place on contested deep forwards if we had two we would play one deep,’’ Scott said.
“Then we brought Patty Dangerfield in and are tempted to play him forward but it’s so hard to go away from that strength around the midfield.’’
Ablett still has one more year to run on his deal at the Suns, but said in an interview at the start of the season, 2017 could be his last year.
The two-time Brownlow Medallist cited personal reasons as wanting a move back to Melbourne, and told The Footy Show he would sit down with the Suns at the end of the year and assess all his options.