Current, former coaches explain why Gary Ablett has adapted to his new role so spectacularly

Gary Ablett turns 35 in two weeks but he’s playing with the zest of a 20-year-old. JON ANDERSON spoke to three men who have coached the Little Master to find out why his transformation into a medium forward has been a huge success.

Jon Anderson

3 min read

April 30, 2019 - 12:19PM

Geelong

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Just two weeks shy of his 35th birthday, Gary Ablett’s reincarnation from midfielder to medium forward is creating a new chapter in his stunning career.

His first season back at Geelong in 2018 as a midfielder was solid rather than stellar as evidenced by his 11th placing in the club’s best and fairest, despite playing 19 games.

An acceptance over summer that his role had to change was received positively by Ablett but sceptically by some, particularly after a pre-season that stuttered at times.

To find out more about a man regarded as one of the finest to play our code, we speak with the last three men to have coached Ablett at AFL level.

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Gary Ablett was best on ground against the Eagles on Sunday. Picture: AAP

GUY McKENNA

(Played on Gary Ablett Sr and coached Gary Ablett Jr for four years)

“You are preaching to the converted as far as Gary goes, and heaven help anyone playing half-back or back pocket in the coming weeks. They would be getting very nervous, very quickly.

“I actually played on his old man, and while senior was a bit taller, you could be following them into a pack or in the line of the ball or the contest, most players would give away which way they were going to go, whereas with Gary and his Dad you didn’t know which way they were going to break.

“And even if you did guess it correctly, they have such core strength that they will throw the tackle off. The key is he’s obviously fit, and to go forward with that energy and creativity, he is a defender’s nightmare.

“Ten possessions 70m away from goal, he will hit targets most of the time because he’s such a good kick. And so many of those entries will end up in shots on goal.

“But like any great footballer, if he wasn’t fit, then he was reduced to being a mere mortal. Gary Jr is basically unstoppable when fit. Right now we are seeing the best of him again.

“Like champions, he has that internal motivation to be the best.

Gary Ablett is congratulated by coach Chris Scott after Geelong’s win over West Coast. Picture: Getty Images

RODNEY EADE

(Played with Gary Sr and coached Gary Jr for three years)

“I defended him at times last year because he was playing quite well and we were talking about a 34-year-old. I thought if he got his head around it (moving forward) then he would be a super dangerous player and we saw that on the weekend.

“His footy IQ is off the chart and his ability to do something constructive with it is superior to most players. He is clearly moving so well and that is the key to Gary, because he has to feel good about his body.

“He is actually playing better than last year but he is a freak. He is a team-orientated person but he does want to play to his standards, and playing a different role compromises that a bit.

“Clearly he has embraced that and while his team is playing well, there will be plenty of available ball. And he reads it so well means he’s a step ahead of everyone else. Right now he seems to be back to his best. Who knows, he might play another year?

“If he keeps playing close to that level he would have to get another year. It will be interesting to see how Geelong manages him.”

Gary Ablett kicked two goals against the Eagles. Picture: Michael Klein

CHRIS SCOTT

(His Geelong coach for 25 games)

“It’s a little surprise, albeit a positive one, that he’s physically better at 34, turning 35 this year, than he was at 32.

“There has been a little bit of the role and the way he fits into the system as well. We were clear for a long time that we had some deficiencies in our game, particularly that related to the forward half, but they were difficult to fix.

“Because most of the lack of continuity and the deficiency in system was due to injury and we tended to replace those types of players with 18 year olds without much experience.

“One of the big shifts this year was that even Gryan Miers, as a second-year player, has been in our system for over 12 months.

“We have got some stronger guys down there who can win contests and Gary is clearly at the forefront of that. He looks a threat every time the ball goes near him.”