Gary Ablett should take a pay cut if he wants to play for Geelong in 2018, Jon Ralph writes
GARY Ablett has enjoyed a lucrative AFL career and likely earned more money than any other player, so if he wants to get back to Geelong he must take a pay cut to do it, JON RALPH writes.
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GARY Ablett might have made more money from playing football than any player ever before him.
He had already been well paid in nine fabulous seasons at Geelong by the time he accepted Gold Coast’s cash.
That five-year deal was worth anywhere from $6 million to $8 million, Neil Balme saying recently the first year was front-ended with a $1.8 million pay cheque.
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Ablett’s most recent deal is worth $3 million over 3 years, with Ablett already paid $2.5 million of it for 28 high-standard games.
At what point is it up to Ablett to sacrifice a bit of the folding stuff if he is so resolute in getting back to Simonds Stadium?
If Ablett is so desperate to return to Geelong for the family reasons he states as his sole objective, he will need to take a pay cut to do so.
The current state of play is that given Gold Coast has already prepaid half of Ablett’s 2018 salary, they just aren’t interested in being hoodwinked by another departing player.
They want Ablett’s $500,000 salary to be paid by the Cats, then want a solid player in exchange — which the Cats will pay for in 2018.
Clearly much can change in coming months, but as Geelong coach Chris Scott again said on Sunday, the Cats will never agree to that deal.
Especially when they have a tight salary cap, are still chasing Devon Smith, and are aware Ablett is injury-prone and will be 34 by Round 8 next year.
“If the obstacles I am hearing are factual they are too great,” Scott told Channel Nine.
“We have been consistent on that in the last few weeks. There is always room for things to change but if some of those obstacles are true, it’s just impossible.
“It’s not a matter of wanting to do it or not, it’s just impossible.”
Ablett might point to Saturday night’s Suns best-and-fairest victory, but if anything that could strengthen the Suns’ resolve about the bargaining position they hold.
Some suggest an Ablett taking a pay cut is as likely as ex-AFL boss Andrew Demetriou conceding he was wrong.
But if his desire to return is about family reasons — and not just jumping off a sinking ship — he will need to sacrifice.
If he played for $200,000 next year it would allow the Cats much more flexibility to get a deal done with Gold Coast.
In the process it would help restore a battered reputation, might win him a third flag, and would set him up for his post-football career in media.
Taking less money to ensure he gets to Geelong would help pave the way for the lucrative post-career ambassadorships and sponsorships that will keep the cash rolling in.
Everyone right now is standing on their digs over a deal that could still get done, but Scott is right — the Cats just don’t have $1 million to spend on a 33-year-old.
Ablett’s reputation has taken a battering these past few years, for a list of issues that to be honest are a touch petty.
Running away from cameras, refusing to fly to away games as captain when injured, not playing at anything less than 100 per cent, not returning from China to rehab his shoulder.
None of it affects his worthiness as an out-and-out champion and eventual AFL legend, but his reputation could do with a spit and polish.
Imagine if he declared he would get to the Cats at any cost if it would help them secure him and get the Suns a draft pick or player to build with?
The alternative is being seen to be greedy yet again, and potentially costing the Cats four-time knee reco victim Daniel Menzel in the process.
This saga has so many twists and turns but rather than playing the homesick victim Ablett needs to take control of his own destiny.
After bringing in somewhere well in excess of $10 million over his career, he can definitely afford it.
Originally published as Gary Ablett should take a pay cut if he wants to play for Geelong in 2018, Jon Ralph writes
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