Gary Ablett’s future and Mark Blicavs’ role among Geelong’s big decisions after finals exit

Ex-teammate Jimmy Bartel has urged Gary Ablett to play on, questioning why AFL greats are rushed into retirement when they pass 30 years of age.

The Cats have some big questions to answer.

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel says he can’t understand why champions are rushed into retirement, urging ex-teammate Gary Ablett to play on in 2020.

The 35-year-old was named in the All-Australian squad this year, finishing the campaign with 33.17 playing predominantly as a small forward for the minor premier.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE CATS

While Ablett’s output was down throughout finals, Bartel said he had seen no reason Ablett should not go around again.

“The question, all of a sudden raising about his future, I think is very premature,” Bartel said on Channel 7.

Like his team, Gary Ablett had a quieter second half to 2019. Pic: Getty Images

“There’s a great case for him to be actually in the All-Australian side. He made the All-Australian squad.

“Everyone looks to his age and thinks, ‘that means he’s done’. We’re in this rush to retire players once they get over the age of 30, especially champions.

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“He’s not going to be 100 per cent Brownlow Gary. But 70 per cent Gary is pretty much better than most.

“There’s plenty of young players around him, so he’s not putting players out. Miers, Parfitt, even Narkle still play while he’s playing.”

Ablett averaged 20 disposals, four marks and 4.5 tackles per game this year.

He had 21 disposals and booted 1.1 in Friday’s preliminary final loss to Richmond.

Meanwhile, Geelong president Colin Carter defended coach Chris Scott in the wake of another finals exit, saying he doesn’t understand criticism of the man who’s a “terrific human being and coach”.

The Cats last night lost their fourth preliminary final in as many attempts and the dissection is on, with critics pouncing on some coaching decisions while some supporters have also been quick to join the pile-on.

Carter said he’s shocked at the level of abuse directed at the club by a minority of supporters, saying he was unsure why Scott appeared to have a target on his back.

Chris Scott’s coaching moves are closely watched. Pic: AAP

“I don’t accept it because the people close to him have a completely different view,” Carter said.

“I think he’s a terrific human being and a terrific coach.

“I’m not sure why he attracts the flak — whether he’s too thoughtful for some fringe group of punters, I don’t know.”

On Saturday, Carter revealed the club had copped a barrage from a select group of fans unhappy with another missed opportunity.

“I’m amazed at how ugly a very small raft of the supporters is and I’ve received messages over the past few weeks that have been quite foul,” he told 3AW.

“Talking about our people in a way that is completely disrespectful. There’s been amazing support from most of our members but there is an ugly side out there that is pretty distressing.

“If I was in the firing line like the players and the coaches no wonder it gets you down.

“In an era where we talk about mental illness and the pressures that people are under yet some people feel they are obliged to be abusive.”

Mark Blicavs spent the preliminary final on the wing. Pic: AAP

KEY CAT QUESTIONS — WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

DID CHRIS SCOTT GET MARK BLICAVS WRONG?

A fortnight ago the footy world was questioning Scott after the Cats bombed against Collingwood.

Two weeks later, the critics are coming again as Blicavs, named in the 40-man All-Australian squad after his superb year in defence, played most of the night on the wing.

As a wingman across the past two weeks, Blicavs had 24 disposals to his direct opponent’s 38 and failed to kick a goal while his rivals kicked four.

Marks were 6-10 and clearances 3-5 as Blicavs found himself lining up against Chris Masten, Andrew Gaff, Brandon Ellis and Josh Caddy.

Premiership coach Paul Roos said it was hard to defend the Cats’ decision not to move Blicavs onto Tigers matchwinner Tom Lynch.

“I find it really difficult to criticise coaches because I know how tough it is but you don’t get beat at what you know,” Roos said.

“I find it really hard to defend … he’s not a wingman.

“He’s had 10 disposals on a wing, I just don’t understand it.

“If I’m a Geelong supporter this morning, I’m going ‘OK we got beaten by Lynch’.

“It just doesn’t make any sense to me how you could a) not play him there throughout the back half of the season and b) you’ve brought Stanley in and taken (Blicavs) out and you’ve still put him on the wing,” he told 3AW.

“If Blicavs plays centre half back and keeps Lynch to one goal and they get beaten because they don’t have a wingman, I think people accept.”

After the match Cats defender Zach Tuohy was on the front foot when asked about his versatile teammate.

“It’s really average punditry when you see some of the comments about Blicavs and where his best position is,” Tuohy said.

“Some of things people say and don’t see, it’s criminal.”

Gary Ablett trudges off after Geelong’s preliminary final defeat. Picture: Michael Klein.

DOES GARY ABLETT PLAY ON?

The little champ’s future will be decided in the coming weeks.

Some think he tired and should give it away, while others are preferring to look at his work across 2019, which almost yielded another All-Australian jumper in his first season as a permanent forward.

After the match Scott offered a quick “not the time” when asked about Ablett’s future.

But premiership teammate Cameron Ling thinks Ablett might want to go on.

“My feel is Gary will want to go on next year and that’s just a gut feel,” Ling said on 3AW.

“I don’t know, just unfinished business and he may be so desperate to win that premiership he’s come back to win.

“As a club, I wonder if they are going to want him to finish.

“Is there such a thing as a player being so good or having such an unbelievable legacy that they get a say in when they finish?”

Tigers great Matthew Richardson believes Ablett has been so good for so long he has earned the right to call time on his terms.

“I reckon if you look at it 99 per cent of players of people in football get a tap on the shoulder,” he said.

“There is the one per cent of absolute of icons and superstars who make their own calls like a James Hird, a Gary Ablett those sorts of people.

“He’s had an All-Australian squad year, he kicked nearly 40 goals. He still had 20 and a goal in a prelim last night … how do you replace that?

“Age is just a number. Look at Tom Brady — he is 40 but he’s still performing.”

Harry Taylor’s future is uncertain. Pic: Getty Images

DOES HARRY TAYLOR PLAY ON?

Another decorated star whose future is under the microscope after the preliminary final loss.

After managing his first full pre-season in a few years, Taylor enjoyed a very solid season in his customary defensive role.

He had a few kicked on him by Tom Lynch on Friday night, but also showed his marking and intercepting would be sorely missed should he hang up the boots.

“My feeling is Harry will finish up what has been a wonderful football career,” Ling said.

Tim Kelly shares a hug with Joel Selwood after the loss. Pic: Getty Images

HAS TIM KELLY PLAYED HIS LAST GAME FOR THE CATS?

Almost certainly, yes.

After the match Scott said he would “fight tooth and nail” to keep his star midfielder, while president Colin Carter said the club was yet to know of Kelly’s intentions.

Kelly is certain to request a trade to his native WA and one of the two clubs in his home state.

“He’s just an outstanding player for us,” Scott said after the Cat’s 31-disposal, three-goal game.

“On the big stage, really good opposition, he was fantastic tonight. I suspect if we had of won the game we’d be talking about him in even more glowing terms. But just because we couldn’t get the result I don’t think that should take the gloss off his performance and the year he’s had.

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“I’ve got absolutely no control over what’s going to go on. All I can say is he’s been a credit to himself all the way through and he should be proud of himself and we’re really proud of him. But if your question is, ‘Would you like to keep him?’, I’ll fight tooth and nail to do that.”

Rhys Stanley came in after the qualifying final loss. Pic: Getty Images

WHAT DO THE CATS DO IN THE RUCK?

Rhys Stanley was overlooked in the qualifying final — a decision that astounded many — but came back for the semi-final win over West Coast and the loss to the Tigers.

He was more-than-serviceable in both matches, his athleticism and marking around the ground a feature as he battled bigger opponents.

With a host of ruckman still on the Cats list — Zac Smith, Ryan Abbott and Darcy Fort to name a few — and Geelong unable to lure Todd Goldstein from North Melbourne, Scott and his coaching team have a decision to make.

Either head to the trade table or back in one of their men.

“They need to have total faith in one of their ruckman on their list or they need to find a ruckman,” Ling said.