Gary Ablett is set to burn the Gold Coast by skipping out on his contract, writes Mark Robinson

CLEARLY, money can buy the player, as it did Gary Ablett when he joined Gold Coast. But money still can’t buy loyalty and obligation, writes Mark Robinson.

Gary Ablett in action for the Suns. Picture: Getty Images

AFTER six seasons and two games and with Gold Coast at its lowest ebb since its inception, Gary Ablett wants to return to Victoria and his beloved Geelong.

He wanted to leave last year but the Suns said no.

Ablett said there was worsening family issues, but still the Suns said no.

He will want to leave at the end of this year and the Suns can’t say no, because why keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.

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Make a statement, sure, but to make a statement for a second year would be foolhardy.

Indications are the Ablett camp has given Geelong a nod and a wink about playing for the Cats in 2018, as revealed in Wednesday’s Herald Sun .

If it happens it will be a homecoming long remembered in the city by the bay.

Geelong will be rapt — if they can work the trade and a cut to his salary — but what of the Gold Coast Sunburnts?

Gary Ablett is likely to leave the Gold Coast. Picture: Adam Head

Ablett, 32, is set to burn the Suns by skipping out on his contract.

Observers have said the Suns have let Ablett down, but the Suns can never be accused of being skimpy on Ablett’s financial package.

Observers will say he gave the Suns everything. Yes, everything except loyalty to the end, that is.

Actually, not even near to the end. He has this year and next to run on his contract, but he wanted to skedaddle last October.

The recruitment of Ablett as the marquee signing for the inaugural 2011 season has proven to be a mistake among many mistakes made by the expansion club and the AFL.

Under Ablett, the club has not played finals, has had player leadership issues and drugs issues, and that’s what we know.

Ablett the player enhanced his reputation. He was a great player in a great team at Geelong and an even better player in a bad team at the Suns.

He won a Brownlow Medal, two MVPs, three B&Fs, two goalkicking awards and four All-Australians. And we loved him for it.

But the fact is the Suns are worse now than when he arrived.

Back then, there was hope and enthusiasm and something new and fresh to behold and believe in.

Today, the club is coming off its worst loss in its history and Ablett is being targeted across the competition for being lazy and uninterested.

And he’s leaving.

The Suns have fought the hard battle and the signing of Ablett might not even be the greatest of mistakes.

Scotty Clayton’s draft picks have been more miss than hit, the administration was in portables until this year, the training facilities were rubbish and of the first bunch of appointments, Guy McKenna (coach) and Travis Auld (chief executive) were first-timers, John Witheriff (chairman) didn’t know footy and Dean Robinson (high performance) found infamy at Essendon.

They then throw $10 million at Ablett and a $1m a year for Karmichael Hunt.

Gary Ablett at Gold Coast training. Picture: Richard Gosling

With that money they could’ve signed emerging superstars Daniel Hannebery, Robbie Gray and Callan Ward, who were all teenagers, and still have them now.

The Suns played the messiah card and paid with bowls of silver and gold

Was it worth it? No

Because what has it got the club? Identity? Crowds? Success?

Ablett’s a champ, he might be the best midfielder of all time, but it appears he’s set to cut and run on a contract which made him the richest player of all time.

Clearly, money can buy the player, as it did Ablett way back when, but money still can’t buy loyalty and obligation.

Originally published as Gary Ablett is set to burn the Gold Coast by skipping out on his contract, writes Mark Robinson