Gary Ablett would have to take a massive pay cut if he returns home to Geelong in 2018

GOLD Coast captain Gary Ablett would need to take the biggest pay cut in AFL history if he wanted to return to play at Geelong in 2018.

Gary Ablett would face a major pay cut to return to Geelong.

GARY Ablett would need to take the biggest pay cut in AFL history if he wanted to play at Geelong in 2018.

The Cats are keen for another crack at Ablett, who was rebuffed by Gold Coast despite telling Geelong he wanted to come home.

By the end of 2017 the dual Brownlow Medallist will be 33 but will have only a single year on his $1 million-per-season contract at the Suns.

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The Cats will not have room to pay such a huge contract and Gold Coast would seem no chance to pay any of it to broker a trade for an ageing player.

Instead, the only realistic option to get home would see Ablett taking a pay cut of more than $500,000 to get back to the Cats.

Geelong could have between $400,000-$500,000 of salary cap room to pay Ablett to play out his days at his original club.

Gary Ablett will play for Gold Coast in 2017. Picture: Adam Head

Gary Ablett could return to Geelong in 2018.

His situation would mirror Collingwood star Travis Cloke, who was forced to take a pay cut of more than $200,000 to extend his career at the Western Bulldogs.

He had a single year left on his contract at the Magpies, but the Dogs handed over a late pick and Cloke inked a new deal to play in red, white and blue.

Geelong is adamant it has salary cap room in future years despite the club saying it struggled to afford Brett Deledio with a “very tight” salary cap this off-season.

Ablett has always been keen to maximise the size of his contracts, taking months to finalise his last three-year, $3 million extension.

But the prevailing view is that Ablett could work with some Geelong companies on ambassadorial roles in 2018 to set up his post-football future.

Ablett could also urge the Suns to release him given he will have given the club seven seasons by then, well above the AFL career average.

Despite the club’s failure to make a meaningful impact in the Queensland market, Ablett could not have done more to promote the Suns’ brand.

He has been the Suns captain for six years, won three best-and-fairest awards, two club goalkicking awards and the 2013 Brownlow Medal.

Ablett’s manager Liam Pickering said last week his client might still see out the last two years of his contract at the Gold Coast.

But he admitted Ablett faced considerable homesickness issues and had wanted to return to Geelong.

Gary Ablett joined Gold Coast in 2011.

“He actually just asked the question and said ‘I’m homesick’ and I want to get around my family,” Pickering said.

“We asked the question, it was a pretty straightforward discussion and it was over as quickly as it was asked.

“Everyone wants to be around their family, he’s newly-married … he’s been gone for six years.”

Ablett is prepared to hand over the captaincy if another contender emerges, with Tom Lynch ready to accept the leadership mantle.

The 288-gamer, returning this pre-season from more shoulder surgery, is in America and was pictured with NBA star Russell Westbrook this week.

Originally published as Gary Ablett would have to take a massive pay cut if he returns home to Geelong in 2018