Gary Ablett urges Gold Coast to trade its high draft picks for established players

GOLD Coast captain Gary Ablett has urged his club to be ­aggressive at the trade table so the Suns can finally join the September action next year.

GOLD Coast captain Gary Ablett has urged his club to be ­aggressive at the trade table so the Suns can finally join the September action next year.

The superstar midfielder is on the comeback trail from a shoulder injury but says he’s confident he’ll be ready for the start of pre-season training.

Gold Coast is set to lose two of its best youngsters as Jaegar O’Meara and Dion Prestia seek trades to Hawthorn and Richmond.

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But Ablett told the Sunday Herald Sun the Suns needed to put their draft picks on the table to attract established players.

“We’re going to lose a few players, but at the same time, we’re going to be pretty ­aggressive in the trade period,” Ablett said.

Gary Ablett says the Suns should use their draft picks to attract established players. Picture: Getty Images

“We’ve got a lot of high draft picks which we’ll obviously use as trade bait.

“Hopefully we can pick up a few 23, 24-year-olds that have been in the system for five or six years that know all about it, obviously for their experience on and off the field, but also I just think that’d be great for our younger guys.”

The Suns won just six games this year after starting the season with three wins on the trot. Ablett said he was still confident the club had “a very talented list”.

“We’ve made a lot of changes over the last 12 months and I truly believe that we’re heading in the right direction,” Ablett said.

Richmond is the frontrunner to snare Dion Prestia. Picture: Adam Head

“And I think next year, we really need to repay the support all our fans have given us, and I think it’s about time we play some finals footy.”

The midfielder’s season ended in Round 16 when he suffered another shoulder injury but he said yesterday that he was feeling “really good” after a long period of recovery.

“The recovery’s been very different compared to the last lot of surgery that I had,” Ablett said. “As a lot of people know, I had a frozen shoulder, which really set me back, but this time it’s feeling great.

“I feel like I’m getting my range back, it’s really feeling strong and I’m confident I’ll be right for day one of preseason.”