Gary Ablett opens up about how his Christianity defines and drives him
GARY Ablett is not just the greatest player of his generation, he’s also its most private. For the first time he speaks openly about how his Christianity defines and drives him.
Gold Coast
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GARY Ablett’s faith in his football club has been re-invigorated.
His faith in himself and his body, after almost 18 months on the sidelines, has returned.
And, of course, his faith in Jesus remains absolute which, he says, has helped him to be a better leader, better footballer and a better person.
This wasn’t supposed to be Gaz The Christian above Gaz The Footballer, but the two persona’s are intertwined.
Without question, Ablett would not be the player of his generation, if not the most accomplished player of all time, if he did not find guidance from God.
He has flaws as a leader in a football sense, but at the same time his leadership is based around values he believes are unsurpassed.
Those values are born from the Bible. They enable him to wholly understand where football sits and understand how much his faith has delivered him a measured, contented life.
“There’s no doubt it takes away the pressures and expectations you put on yourself,’’ he said.
“The way I see it, football is a game and I’m so blessed to be doing what I love and I can go out there and know that giving my best is all that really matters. I feel sometimes there’s all these external expectations put on these young players and they struggle with that because their identity is based on that, their identity is based on how they perform as a footballer. It’s wrong.
“I have those chats with the young boys and I say all you can do is your best. Yes, we want to win a premiership but we can walk out at the end very proud of our careers if we know we’ve given our all.
“To be honest, the one thing I’ve learnt in the past 15 years of my football is that you can win premierships and you can win individual rewards, but it doesn’t bring fulfilment to your life. There’s nothing wrong with winning them and I believe I’m one of the most competitive people you’d ever meet, but going back to the whole identity thing, if your identity gets wound up in your football or whatever you’re doing, then I believe a big fall is coming.
“It can’t last forever. Whatever you’re doing it ends one day. Football will end for me, so I think it’s more about the journey.
“Within the industry, I meet a lot of successful business people and I’m always fascinated to know, a) what drives them and b) what their end goal is? I’m interested in hearing why they actually do what they do. Is it a legacy?
“Most of the times it comes back to the same thing, a lot of them can’t really answer that question. We’re constantly searching for success, we think we can get to here (raises is hand) then it’s going to bring fulfilment, and if it doesn’t bring fulfilment we then search for more and then that doesn’t bring fulfilment ...’’
Can I interrupt. Why are you here, Gary?
“I believe I know the answer. It’s to live the life God intended me to live. That’s to give back to others, to serve. I couldn’t break it down and say it’s to be a footballer. I believe we were put on this earth to have relationships with people and for me, I’m seeking God for those answers every day.
“It’s important to understand that being a Christian is not about a bunch of rules, or that you necessary have to be living this way or that way, it’s about seeking God for answers and letting him guide you and, most importantly, applying that to your life.’’
He is an extraordinary person as well as being an extraordinary footballer.
But not even the greats escape criticism.
In December last year, Ablett sat before his teammates and to use an ol’ fashioned footy term, he copped it between the eyes.
Internally, it is said to be a pivotal day in the evolution of the Gold Coast Suns.
The champ was told by his teammates young and old he needed to improve a facet of his leadership. It was pivotal because after 12 months of turmoil it was crystal that everyone and every behaviour was under examination.
Coach Rodney Eade saw it as a vast step in the maturing of a footy club.
Eade, who did not speak this day, was eager to see how Ablett would receive the minor condemnation. But any fears were quickly supplanted by Ablett’s measured acceptance.
Ablett had previously been told by teammates to improve himself. That was at Geelong when he was 21 and bumming around in a forward pocket. This time he was 31 and the team’s best player and the club’s greatest asset.
At the end of the day, football is just a game ... there are things more important than the game of football 
Ablett said he and others were challenged in the Leading Teams environment.
“I put my hand up as captain and said I’d like to go first. I wanted to hear the areas where my teammates thought I could improve,’’ Ablett said.
“I think a healthy football club has that, where you continually challenge each other, where guys want to continually improve. I thought it would be great to put myself out the front and the guys feel comfortable to talk.
“The facilitator said to the group it’s important the guys were honest - no matter if it was the first-year player or the older players - and for us to move forward as a group we needed to continually drive standards and to challenge each other.’’
Was it confronting?
“The biggest thing for me, and I would call myself an introvert, I’m the kind of person that recharges from spending time with family and close mates and, so, the first thing they said to me was: ‘Gaz, as our captain, we feel you’re great at one-on-one, with following up and challenging guys one-on-one, but we need you to hit guys between the eyes within a group setting.’’
This posed a quandary. Delivering brutal feedback is not in Ablett’s character. Delivering life messages applicable to football behaviours certainly is.
“To an extent I think I can give brutal feedback. But I don’t think everything is always black or white. I’m a big believer that if an individual is making a decision against the group or against our values, I need to find out why they are doing that. It’s not always black and white that they don’t necessarily care about the group, or whatever, because it may be something else.
“Maybe they’ve had a completely different upbringing and they don’t understand structure, that they’ve never really had structure in their life. So, for me, it’s about being consistent in their life, following up and being able to teach them how to do that better.’’
It’s not unreasonable to say Ablett had, at times, lacked structure in his life and he says it gives him an understanding or affinity with wayward teammates.
“I think you can relate, there’s no doubt about that,’’ he said
“When I talk structure, it could be a range of different things. We have all had different experiences and we all have different perceptions because of what we’ve been through. Sometimes, it takes more than a “you need to be doing this” with people. In many cases people need to be heard and understood first. They need that consistency in their lives.’’
The Suns were off the rails this time last year and as part of the finger-pointing, Ablett’s leadership was questioned.
In terms of Harley Bennell and the drugs, and Charlie Dixon and the drinking, and the night-clubbish ways for most of them, Ablett knew as much about what was going on as would’ve Mother Theresa at a full-moon party in Thailand.
“I was shocked, no doubt about that. I know people take drugs, but that’s not the lifestyle I live. I’m not out on a Saturday night, I’m at home with family and friends, over the weekends it’s not my kind of thing.’’
For Ablett, how could he be aware of it if he didn’t see it or live it?
“It is hard. I go into the club every day to improve as a leader and as a person. There’s some things you don’t find out until there’s a spotlight put on it, and that was one of those things. We were disappointed as a football club, I was a disappointed as a leader.
“We needed to tell those boys that we don’t accept that as a football club and that’s not the direction we’re heading. At the same time, the boys needed to be supported, continue to be educated and that’s what we did. They’ve been moved on and that’s what we thought was best for them and for the football club.
“I completely agreed with the decision.
Ablett spoke to both Bennell and Dixon after the decision.
“At the end of the day, football is just a game and it was disappointing for our football club. But there are things more important than the game of football. I was concerned for their well-being and I wanted to make sure I was doing everything possible to help them as people. They know I’m here if they need to talk about anything. They know my phone number.’’
Still, he argued being a Christian while some of his teammates were living un-Christian-like existence didn’t mean there was some kind of black hole in communication.
“I go along to social events, but I’m just not going to go out and get drunk, I’m not going to do those things, because they don’t reflect my values and the way I want to live my life,’’ he said.
“But I think we’re really close as a group. I will catch up with the boys in some other environment, whether that’s going out for lunch, whether that’s having them over for BBQ at my place and having a quiet beer or a quiet wine.
“But I will never go against my values and that’s the life I’m trying to live. I want to set a good example for people, especially for these young boys who I love and care for. I want to make sure that I’m setting the right example for them and living the lifestyle I speak to them about. Actions speak louder than words.
“The reality is, none of us are perfect. I’m certainly not. But if we can choose to persevere and pick ourselves up when we do make mistakes, I believe it will only make us better people in the long run.’’
The Suns have had an overhaul for the 2016 season. Players gone, staff are gone and all up it’s about an 11-person turnaround in the football department, mainly in the high performance group which h is now headed by Justin Cordy.
Internally, they are seeking self respect and responsibility.
Externally, the football world is looking at the Suns and wondering .. what exactly? That they’re a $300 million flop? That it was party central in party town? That GWS started five lengths back and are now six lengths in front? Certainly, it wasn’t supposed to be like this.
“I know those expectations are there,’’ Ablett said.
“But I try not to worry about what people think externally. Internally, over the past 12 months there has been a huge amount of growth at the club and within the leadership group. The boys are clear on the direction we are heading, what our values are and what we stand for.
“With all the negativity that we have received, particularly during the 2015 season, you would expect us as a group to be divided, but the truth of the matter is that all of it has only united us.
“As a team we want to win a premiership and we believe we have made the tough but necessary changes that needed to be made in order to achieve our goal. The hunger, passion and commitment is there now, more so then ever.’’
They are strong-ish words from a bloke who tries to avoid any controversy. But even Ablett realises the club wasn’t where it should be.
“To be fair, the club was established six or seven years ago,’’ he said.
“Early days we had a lot of people working around the football club who had never been at a footy club before, they really didn’t understand what it took to have success, and we’ve made changes along the way.
“I truly believe now we’re in a very good place and I know you think I have to say that, but I’m really excited this year.’’
He talks of the excitement of Tom Lynch and Steven May, of getting the midfield gang back together, and of his hopes that Jaeger O’Meara will stay beyond his contract which expires at the end of the season.
I hope that when people hear or talk about me, they don’t just see or think of me as a footballer, but instead a man of integrity who lived his life to serve others through God
He has an affinity with O’Meara as well. Ablett was lured north with millions of dollars and a new challenge. O’Meara faces the same from a bundle of clubs in Melbourne.
“I’ve had a chat to Jaeger about it. He’s good kid with a good head on his shoulders. I said at the end of the day, you need to make whatever decision you feel is right for you. He’s got those leadership qualities in him and no doubt he could be a potential captain.
“I think the last 12 months were really good Jaeger. For a lot of guys they probably couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. The past 18 months have been disappointing. I don’t know what words to use to describe it ... look, we thought we’d be winning a lot more games that we are by now and changes needed to be made.
“We have some good chats, we’ve challenged each other and looked at areas where we needed improvement. Jaeager has said the environment has changed and hopefully that’s enough for him to make the decision to say.
“But there’s only a certain amount we can control.
“I made my decision based around what my family and close friends thought, what I felt was best for me and my football and you just leave it that. I’ve never really worried about what people have thought.
“There’s too many people out there searching for people’s approval. And that’s not me. I know the kind of person that I want to be and I focus on that every day and that’s being a man that serves others, gives back where I can and really that’s all that matters.’’
Always, Ablett’s values come from a purity of the heart and an unshakable confidence in the teachings of God.
It wasn’t always so.
Early doors at Geelong, he was a semi-normal kid who didn’t understand the professionalism required to play AFL.
It’s no coincidence that finding God helped him find discipline and devotion.
“I truly believe the more you know Jesus and who he is and his character,’’ he starts, ‘’you know, everyone knows my dad is a Christian. I grew up going to church every now and then and in my early 20s I stopped going to church and I was kind of living my own life there for a bit.
“I won’t go into too much, but I had a Godly experience when I was in my early 20s.’’
Too private?
“Yes. I’ve spoken to people close to me about it, but I was really struggling with some things in my life at the time. I remember praying to God and saying, ‘God, if you’re real I need your help right now.’ I had an amazing Godly experience through that time and that was probably when things changed in my life. I started going back to church and every since then it’s best thing that’s happened to me. Jesus changed my life.
“You know, I’ve got a lot of Christian friends and a lot of non-Christian friends and we have some pretty deep conversations about my faith.
“I’m always interested in their lives, to know what they’re going through and how they see things.
“At the end of the day, I can only speak for myself. I can willingly share my faith with you and how God has impacted my life. I remember being at a point in my life where I was desperate for answers to some pretty common questions: Why do I exist? Why am I here? What’s the big picture?’’
At 31, Ablett has a three-year contract ahead of him.
It might be too early ask if he has a legacy, but what the heck.
“Do I have a legacy?’’ he said.
“To be honest, when I think of legacy I think of influence and what you entrust to others. I believe I’m definitely in a position of influence and I’m grateful for that, however I hope that when people hear or talk about me, they don’t just see or think of me as a footballer, but instead a man of integrity who lived his life to serve others through God.’’
Originally published as Gary Ablett opens up about how his Christianity defines and drives him
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