A sudden thought

[swansrule100]

he wouldnt go to sydney unless his brother moved with him

we would happily accomodate that though.

[goswannie14]

I wonder if he would settle for having his cousin with him? Having his brother too would be a bonus.

[BSA5]

That's because normally they still want to play footy the next year.

Exactly. I'm pretty sure I heard Ablett's contract expires at the end of this year. If that's the case, Ablett could just say "I want to go to Sydney. I'm not going to sign another contract. If you want to get anything for me, rather than me just going into the draft, make a deal with Sydney." Sydney would know the great position they are in, and offer a third round pick. Geelong would have to take it, since it's better than nothing. In any case, Ablett wouldn't get a game in front of Hawkins at the Cats anyway, and the Cats showed last year they would be willing to give away VFL players for peanuts when they traded Gardiner (and King) to the Saints for a draft pick which I think was passed in the end as well.

[Margie]

I agree with Liz - don't think N. Ablett will play again but if he does, it would surely be back at Geelong.

[The Boot]

There's an interview with Jimmy Bartel in the lastest ALPHA (can I admit to reading that here? ) where JB opines that he and the other Cats could see that NA had "issues" but admired his decision to leave the game.

Well, he would qualify under the new "youth" formula.

[BSA5]

I agree with Liz - don't think N. Ablett will play again but if he does, it would surely be back at Geelong.

But see, I think the whole reason Ablett left the game was because he was playing at Geelong. By all reports, his whole football-playing life, he tried to distance himself from the reputation of his father. Apparently during a match when he was a teenager playing for a club, a reporter turned up and started snapping shots of him. I think he left the ground at half-time. When you think Geelong, one of the first things you think of is Gary Ablett, Snr. Nathan Ablett would hate that. Geelong is the embodiment of the comparison he wants to escape from. I think the last club he would want to play for, if he decides to play again, would be Geelong.

[bloodboy]

Yeah - I don't reckon he will play again either and I have to agree with a few people who have already posted in saying that I don't think he is that good or really ever will be. All the fuss has been made because of his name...it is funny really, he hates having the name and all the pressure and stuff but I think that the name is pretty much the only reason he has a premiership medal...