Gary Ablett has been failed by Gold Coast, according to Geelong premiership teammates

GARY Ablett’s Geelong premiership teammates say Gold Coast has failed the dual Brownlow Medallist as debate rages over his possible return to the Cats.

Gary Ablett wasn’t at his best against GWS.

GARY Ablett’s Geelong premiership teammates say Gold Coast has failed the dual Brownlow Medallist as debate rages over his possible return to the Cats next season.

Ablett, 32, is contracted at the Suns for 2018 but requested a trade back to the Cats last year and quit as Gold Coast captain in the summer.

He is set to earn about $1 million next year and would almost certainly have to take a hefty pay cut to help facilitate a trade.

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Retired Cat Jimmy Bartel said the Suns would “seriously think about” doing a deal for the right return.

Former Geelong captain Cameron Ling said Ablett might consider sacrificing as much as $600,000 to come home.

The Geelong greats agreed the Suns’ revolving door of young talent had denied Ablett the promised shot at a third flag.

Gary Ablett in action for Gold Coast against GWS.

Ablett had just one disposal in the first quarter of Saturday’s 102-point loss to Greater Western Sydney as another ex-Cat, Cameron Mooney, accused him of chasing easy kicks.

“I feel a bit sorry for Gary,” Bartel said on Channel 7.

“I think when he went to the Gold Coast, they would’ve sold him the plan of playing with (Jaeger) O’Meara, (Dion) Prestia, (Josh) Caddy and these guys and none of them are there.

“He’s going through that all again with a new bunch.”

Ablett has played in just six wins since busting his shoulder in 2014 and Ling said there was no chance Gold Coast could win a flag before he retired.

“Gary genuinely went there with the idea that he could take this team to a premiership,” Ling said on 3AW.

“Now he would be thinking that’s a million miles away. They are light years away from that.

“Financially he’s set up, absolutely, and he enjoyed those first few years. But he craves success. He’s an unbelievable competitor.”

Gary Ablett in his Geelong days.

But former Cat Billy Brownless doubted Ablett would be prepared to halve his salary and said it would be the wrong move for Geelong.

“The Cats don’t need another older player on their list,” Brownless said on Channel 9.

In recent seasons, Geelong coach Chris Scott has pushed out premiership stars Bartel, Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Paul Chapman.

Bartel said the Suns would not emulate Hawthorn’s generous offloading of its champions in last year’s trade period.

“I don’t think they are going to give him away for what we saw with (Sam) Mitchell and (Jordan) Lewis,” he said.

Ling said the Suns would not pay a huge sum for Ablett to play elsewhere.

“At this stage of his career, maybe (Ablett) would halve his contract. But that’s a lot of money (to give up),” Ling said.

Tough-talking Suns chairman Tony Cochrane was adamant in November that Ablett was going nowhere.

“Gary has looked me in the eye and said, ‘Mate, I’ll finish my career here’,” Cochrane said.

“He’s completely committed to the club; 100 per cent committed to the club.”

Originally published as Gary Ablett has been failed by Gold Coast, according to Geelong premiership teammates