Luke Ablett's Next Move

[laughingnome]

VFL clubs chase former Swan Ablett

Where is Luke going to end up? Port Melbourne? Sandringham? Gold Coast? Good to see he still has options though.

[Darren Thomson]

I hope he gets a run and finds his way back into AFL footy, he's a goer, which is what you want, too bad he didn't fit our draft plans this year

[unconfuseme]

Clearly he is still young enough and good enough to be given a chance at the elite level, especially with the expansion. I would have thought he would be a special for GC or GWS as a reasonably priced Premiership player with plenty of years still left in him.

... on the other hand, with all these broken down, over the hill, wannabes trying their hand as NFL kickers, I think he would be one who would have a real chance ... there are few of his peers that could roost it as far as Noggy!

I'd love to see him back in the big time, but I'm sure he would make an impact in the States, whenever it suits him to give it a go

[caj23]

Clearly he is still young enough and good enough to be given a chance at the elite level, especially with the expansion. I would have thought he would be a special for GC or GWS as a reasonably priced Premiership player with plenty of years still left in him.

... on the other hand, with all these broken down, over the hill, wannabes trying their hand as NFL kickers, I think he would be one who would have a real chance ... there are few of his peers that could roost it as far as Noggy!

I'd love to see him back in the big time, but I'm sure he would make an impact in the States, whenever it suits him to give it a go

Unfortunately for NOG 16 clubs disagree with your first statement. His only real chance for a return to the AFL will be with the Gold Coast in 2011 as GWS won't want him after so long out of the system.

Don't know about the NFL either. The only 3 converts so far have been Bennett, Rocca and Graham. All 3 are/were far superior kicks of the football in terms of accuracy and distance. In fact our own Nick Davis who I would rate one of the best kicks I've seen at the Swans wasn't deemed good enough

[laughingnome]

Don't know about the NFL either. The only 3 converts so far have been Bennett, Rocca and Graham. All 3 are/were far superior kicks of the football in terms of accuracy and distance. In fact our own Nick Davis who I would rate one of the best kicks I've seen at the Swans wasn't deemed good enough

The ability to roost the ball is not what punters are saught for. The key in Gridiron is hangtime - giving the runners enough time to get under the ball as well as accuracy. Kicking it too long (ie behind the TD Zone) is argueably a worse result then kicking it too short.

Personally I think NOG will play in the VFL next year, either for GC17 or an established club. Then he nominates for next years draft or signs up with Gold Coast for 2011.

[AnnieH]

Clearly he is still young enough and good enough to be given a chance at the elite level, ...

Nah.
Had that chance already.

[unconfuseme]

... where's the love???

I still think, an "Ablett", a premiership player, fully fit (?), and at the price of a VFL contract, would be a steal for a new franchise, and worth the risk.

I don't think he would normally get another chance, but I don't think he ever reached his full potential with us ... the talent pool is going to be severely stretched with the expansion ... are there 90 AFL players (that are needed) out there who have never been to that level, that are better than him ? ... maybe, but none of them have his aforementioned attributes.

... and I understand that kicking in NFL is different, but to get hang time, you still need to be able to kick it a long way ... up ... and could Nick Davis' failure over there possibly have had anything to do with his character and application (again)?

Anyway, as one of our 2005 heroes, I hope Ablett gets a chance to go on with an AFL team, has a satisfying career, and his only poor games are against the Swans!

[stellation]

Ablett failed to earn a reprieve in Tuesday's AFL pre-season and rookie drafts after there had been an expectation that he would be snared by Gold Coast or re-signed by Sydney as a mature-age rookie.

Did the journalist just decide that would be a logical idea and not bother looking into it?