Gary Ablett helps set up Gold Coast’s big win over Hawthorn after week of criticism

GARY Ablett and Hawthorn are as similar as they are different. Both are closer to the end than the beginning, but only one still has juice in the tank.

Gary Ablett celebrates a goal against Hawthorn.

GARY Ablett and Hawthorn are as similar as they are different.

Both are closer to the end than the beginning, but only one still has juice in the tank.

Ablett last night roared back into form at Metricon Stadium with a stunning performance to pummel the Hawks by 86 points and banish them to last on the ladder for the first time since Round 1, 2007.

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Little Master Ablett broke a mid-game tag to power the Suns to victory with 14 disposals in the third quarter alone and a goal – one of seven unanswered majors – to land the knockout blow.

“It feels great, I’m just super proud of the boys’ efforts,” Ablett said.

“We were a bit under the pump.

Gary Ablett encourages his Gold Coast teammates.

“I had a bit of a tag early, just tried to play the team role (and) de-structured them a little bit (in the second half) I was able to get my hands on a bit of the footy.”

While important to celebrate the win, Ablett said it is important the Suns do not get carried away.

“It’s good to bounce back, another 19 games to go and we need to make sure that we’re competing every week,” Ablett told Channel 7.

In about 2 hours time #Gazza will be trending on twitter for the right reasons! #competitor

— steve johnson (@Steviejohnson20) April 9, 2017

Ablett finished on 36 disposals to not only silence the knockers but frank the faith shown in him pre-game by premiership teammate Steve Johnson.

“In about 2 hours time #Gazza will be trending on twitter for the right reasons! #competitor,” Johnson tweeted.

After a week of intense scrutiny, Ablett started alongside Hawthorn enforcer Luke Hodge in the centre square at Metricon Stadium for the opening bounce.

Rodney Eade and Gary Ablett celebrate the win over Hawthorn.

It had the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster.

And the script writers nailed the opening the play.

Ablett swooped on a Jarrod Witts tap to notch the first clearance and kick of the game.

With the Suns leading 6-0, Ablett bobbed up like a sprinkler deep in attack to get on the end of a long ball and slot the second goal of the game.

The call to the Hawthorn bench came after just three minutes of play.

Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson had seen enough in 180 seconds to revisit the forgotten dark art of the tag.

And not for the first time in a Hawthorn guernsey, a Langford was responsible for an Ablett.

The change had an immediate effect with Will Langford, son of Hawthorn premiership great Chris Langford, taking every chance – with or without the ball – to protect against a vintage Ablett display.

If Langford was not there to quell and frustrate, the next soldier in a brown and gold jumper was.

Hodge did not let his opportunities slide, levelling Ablett close to half-time with a prop off the ball and arm raised low enough not to attract a whistle.

Despite the No.9 on his back mistaken for a bullseye, Ablett dug deep to propel the Suns to not only the first win of the 2017 season but their biggest ever.

Originally published as Gary Ablett helps set up Gold Coast’s big win over Hawthorn after week of criticism