Gary Ablett Jr signs for Creswick for one game
One of the AFL’s greatest ever players is set for his first local footy game in Victoria since retiring after signing on for a one-off appearance with a country club.
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What started as a pipe dream has become a reality for Central Highlands football club Creswick with one of the game’s greatest players set to pull on its club colours.
The club has announced Gary Ablett Jr will don the red, white and black on June 24 when it plays Ballan at home.
Following a four-month process the club has been able to land the 357-game superstar who won two Brownlow Medals and two premierships in a career which included time with Geelong and Gold Coast.
“During pre-season, which started in October, Ryan (Knowles the president) and I discussed and said ‘how do we get someone who can put us on the map a bit, promote the community and someone who has a good following’,” Creswick vice-president Brad Munro said.
“I did some digging around and with my current work there’s a guy who has got a connection with Gary.
“He got in contact with Sean Tobin, who is Gary’s manager, and then an email I thought was reaching for the stars come out with Gary putting on the red, white and black.”
In the last 12 months, Ablett has made one-off appearances for clubs around the country including Centrals Trinity Beach in Cairns last weekend and Palmerston in the Northern Territory last year.
Creswick is hopeful of attracting a monster crowd, predicting it could almost double the 3500 fans who attended when Collingwood champion Dane Swan pulled on the boots two years ago.
“We’re praying the weather gods are kind,” Munro said.
“If it is a nice day, Ryan (Knowles) last night said we’re expecting anywhere between 6500 to 7000 people.
“He played at Trinity Beach on the weekend just gone and by all reports they got 4500 to 5000.
“With Victoria being the football state and our area is massive, we’d expect to get a lot of people coming from Geelong and Melbourne (to see him).”
Creswick is currently winless so far in 2023 and are hopeful Ablett can help turn that around.
Munro said he hoped their young playing group could learn and absorb the lessons Ablett Jr will teach in his time with the Saints.
“We’ve got a very young crop and it’s hard to recruit in this area,” he said.
“It’s hard to get that experience.
“If these players learn a couple of things from him and ask him questions and get tips, we thought this was a win-win for both Gary and the club.”
And it’s a great opportunity to get a win against a side who is currently bottom of the ladder.
“Ballan beat us last year, so we owe them,” Munro said.
“So what better way to have Gary there to come along for the ride and hopefully get the win for the Wickers.”
Ablett will also take part in a sportsman’s dinner after the game.
More details and ticketing information will be released in the next week.
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