Gary Ablett the best player from 2001 super draft and a future AFL Legend, writes Mark Robinson

DRAFT RE-RANK: AS Gary Ablett prepares for his 300th AFL match, MARK ROBINSON takes a look back at the 2001 super draft — and ranks his top 10. HAVE YOUR SAY, VOTE

REVISITING the 2001 “super draft’’ is not exactly a once-off, but as 300 games looms for the player who was recently considered better than his old man, the most extraordinary career from an extraordinary draft cannot be ignored.

Gary Ablett better than his old man?

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ROBBO’S RE-RANKED 2001 DRAFT

SUPERCOACH: GAZZA’S TOP 10 GAMES

TIPPING: SEE WHO THE EXPERTS ARE PICKING

That Gary Ablett Sr is in the conversation to be a legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame tells us what sort of player Gazza Jr has been.

The old man sits with Wayne Carey and Jason Dunstall in that regard, and after Malcolm Blight was elevated to rare air on Tuesday night, one of those three will be next.

Maybe it will be Gazza Sr?

Surely it will be Gazza Jr one day.

Indeed, Blight in 2011 said Junior had surpassed Senior and seeing as Blight coached Senior and has seen Junior for the past six years at the Gold Coast Suns, his opinion carries considerable weight

“He is a complete footballer,” Blight said of Junior. “He is not an outside player or a finisher, he wins his own footy, he defends and he can go forward and be a goal kicker. It isn’t personal, but Gary Sr wasn’t the best player because he played ... forward, which was all he did.’’

What a career it has been and what a celebration football it will be on Sunday.

And it’s little to debate that Ablett is top of the pops of his generation.

There’s been countless times Luke Hodge, who was taken No.1 in the 2001 draft, has laughed off any suggestion Ablett is not the dux of this class.

Hodge is no slouch, either. Four flags, premiership captain and dual Norm Smith medallist means one day, perhaps in 30 or 40 years, Hodge will be in the conversation for legend status, too.

A private person, Ablett has allowed his football to dictate public perception.

When he does speak, he does with respect and softness.

When he plays, it is with power and beauty.

Indeed, Ablett’s standards are so high, so off the charts, that when he had a poor game earlier this season, he was lambasted across the industry.

It’s silly now when you reflect, but in a sense, it wasn’t so much how lacklustre he was that day, rather the incredible drop in performance. It staggered many to see Ablett so average that in some areas it prompted anger.

Gary Ablett plays with power and beauty. Picture: Michael Klein

Understandably, the Suns’ boss Mark Evans lashed out. “I’m sick and tired of people digging into Gary and not paying enough respect to what he’s done in his career,” Evans said. “Eight times All-Australian, five best and fairests, critique him and critique him harshly if you need to, but keep it real.”

So what’s real?

Ablett is the midfielder of his generation, not withstanding Chris Judd’s imposing shadow on the game.

In his waning years at the Suns, taking in injury and the Suns’ off-field performance, it’s been easy to forget how great a player he has been.

Easy and foolish, for Ablett is among the best who has ever played the sport.

Handy trio ... Chris Judd, Luke Hodge and Luke Ball ahead of the draft in 2001.

HOW ROBBO RANKS THE 2001 SUPER DRAFT (draft selection)

1. Gary Ablett (pick 40, father/son)

2. Luke Hodge (1)

3. Chris Judd (3)

4. Sam Mitchell (36)

5. Dane Swan (58)

6. Jimmy Bartel (8)

7. Steve Johnson (24)

8. James Kelly (17)

9. Nick Dal Santo (13)

10. Brian Lake (71)

OTHER STARS FROM 2001 DRAFT:
Luke Ball (3), Leigh Montagna (37), Jarrad Waite (46, father/son), Adam Schneider (60), Jason Gram (19), David Hale (7), Campbell Brown (32), Brent Reilly (12), Andrew Welsh (47), Xavier Clarke (5), Matt Maguire (21), Graham Polak (4), Rick Ladson (16), Paul Medhurst (56), Lewis Roberts-Thomson (29), Ashley Hansen (38), Brad Miller (55), David Rodan (33).