Gary Ablett has told Gold Coast he will finish his career at Suns despite requesting trade back to Geelong

GOLD Coast chairman Tony Cochrane says Gary Ablett has looked him in the eye and said he will finish his career at the Suns despite stunning trade request.

Gary Ablett has told Gold Coast he won’t be leaving. Picture: Jerad Williams

GARY Ablett has vowed to finish his career at Gold Coast, telling Suns chiefs there will be no more trade requests.

Ablett will resume training on Monday, ending a turbulent off-season in which he asked to be traded home to Geelong, battled to recover from more shoulder surgery and attracted criticism for missing the start of pre-season in favour of his honeymoon.

But Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane on Sunday told the Herald Sun that Ablett, 32, had given his word history won’t be repeated.

“Gary has looked me in the eye and said ‘Mate, I’ll finish my career here’. He’s completely committed to the club; 100 per cent committed to the club,” Cochrane said.

Ablett will lose the Suns captaincy in the new year and speculation is rife he will be reunited with the Cats in 12 months’ time despite his $1 million-a-season contract not expiring until the end of 2018.

Gary Ablett has told Gold Coast he won’t be requesting a trade again, Tony Cochrane says. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Cochrane said the family issues which prompted Ablett’s trade request were a “short-term situation”.

“It was a one-off. It (going back to Geelong) is completely dead on the vine,” he said.

“I won’t get into it because it’s a personal relationship, but he had an issue in Geelong and he said ‘I think I know the answer but ... I’ll ask the question, ‘Would you consider trading me back to Geelong?’

“The answer was ‘no way’. It was literally a three-minute conversation.”

Asked if his club was ready for a season of speculation surrounding the champion midfielder, Cochrane said: “Only if it suits the media. Geelong are Geelong — I wish them the best of luck.

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“There’s nothing but complete and total harmony here. Everybody is pumped and excited about the future.”

Geelong coach Chris Scott said mid-year he would love the fairytale of an Ablett return.

“I’ve always held on to the pipe dream that he might come back one day,’’ Scott said.

However, Cochrane was bullish about his club’s on-field prospects for 2017 and beyond, which he believes will be too bright for Ablett to walk away from.

Gary Ablett has been struggling with shoulder injuries. Picture: Adam Head

“At the end of 2017, why would Gary want to leave a club that’s going to finish in the top-four and have a real chance at having a shake at the big dance the following year? It won’t be a question of luck ... just sit back and watch,” Cochrane said.

“This may sound stupid to people from interstate, but we have started pre-season with virtually the entire list fit and healthy. We haven’t had that for the last four years, not even close.

“We’ve had 15-20 per cent of the group missing at the start of pre-season. We’ve got David Swallow 100 per cent fit, we basically haven’t had him on the park for two years and he was our best and fairest in 2014.”

Michael Rischitelli is the only long-term concern, sidelined until late April after a knee reconstruction. Touk Miller, Matt Rosa and Ablett are expected to join the main group by Christmas.

Tom Lynch is the favourite to assume the Gold Coast captaincy, with Steven May also a chance.

Originally published as Gary Ablett has told Gold Coast he will finish his career at Suns despite requesting trade back to Geelong