Gary Ablett opens up on his move to Gold Coast and relationship with former coach Mark Thompson

Geelong superstar Gary Ablett sets the record straight on his relationship with Mark Thompson and addresses the speculation the pair had a falling out before he left for the Gold Coast.

Gary Ablett has revealed he tried to back out of his deal with Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

It’s being billed as “A Night with the Little Master” — two evenings where Gary Ablett Jr will give some rare insights into one of football’s finest careers.

Ablett, 35, will also take fans off the field when he replicates Dustin Martin last year as the headline act at The Palms at Crown on Friday and Saturday, November 15-16 (book at Ticketmaster).

This week Ablett spoke with Jon Anderson about a variety of subjects, from fatherhood to his playing future, and even the moment where he tried to renege after signing with the Gold Coast Suns in 2010.

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JA: How is living back in sunny Geelong, which has hovered around 11-12C all week?

GA: We are building at Jan Juc at the moment so hoping the rain holds off for the brick work to be finished. We need more sun so we can be in by Christmas?

JA: How many bedrooms Gary, in anticipation of father/sons or father/daughters for future Geelong teams?

GA: We have four bedrooms but two of those are for visitors at the time being, and the other for our seven month old son Levi.

JA: Saw the picture of Levi with you and Gary Sr last weekend. Talk about the apple not falling far from the tree.

GA: He’s doing well, a really chilled kid who has started to interact a lot over the past month. I wouldn’t say it’s always been an easy seven months, especially with training and the lack of sleep, but at the same time it’s put a lot of perspective in my life.

JA: Tell me about “A Night with the Little Master”?

GA: Dustin Martin did something similar and ended up doing three or four shows at The Palms at Crown and Steve Waugh did one recently. So that’s where the inspiration has come from.

JA: Who hosts it?

GA: Billy Brownless, who I’ve known since I was a kid hanging around with Nathan in the club rooms.

JA: Billy reckons you were little pests, trying to steal all the chewies and snakes. You must thank Billy for providing a stepladder for your dad in all those games they played together between 1986-96

GA: Don’t worry, Billy has plenty of Senior stories which he will be sharing. I will have some other special guests who I will announce over the next couple of months. It’s basically a chance for me to speak about some things I have never touched on previously because the time hasn’t been right.

**Book your tickers for “A Night with the Little Master” at The Palms at Crown at Ticketmaster**

Gary Ablett is following Dustin Martin on the speaking circuit. Picture: Michael Klein

JA: From what fields might the special guests be from?

GA: Current teammates, ex-teammates and a couple of others from different areas.

JA: Any music and videos, and do you listen to music?

GA: Both. I don’t listen to a lot of radio but I will listen to music before a game, often a guy called Jimmy Needham and Lecrae, a Christian rapper..

JA: Will you go into detail about your move to the Gold Coast?

GA: Definitely. In fact I have never told this story before but when I had made my decision to go to the Gold Coast and had signed the contract, about a week later I actually called up my manager Liam Pickering and asked was there any way I could get out of the contract? I was pretty emotional at the time, the thought of moving away from my family and a football club I had supported my whole life. In the end I’m glad I made the decision to go because it helped me grow as a person and a leader. To take myself out of my comfort zone and challenge myself.

JA: How do you look back on your 2010 season with Geelong, which was the last before you joined Gold Coast?

GA: I actually think that’s the best season I’ve ever had. I kicked 44 goals in the regular season and averaged over 30 possessions. I know it’s not all about possessions but I thought I was pretty damaging with them. I had some good years with the Gold Coast but 2010 probably stands out for me.

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Gary Ablett with Suns coach Guy McKenna after announcing his move to Gold Coast ahead of the 2011 season. Picture: David Caird

JA: In a year where there was alleged conflict between you and your coach Mark “Bomber” Thompson?

GA: There was a lot going on at the time, about both the Suns and my relationship with Bomber. For me there was a lot of talk about the contract and Mark got involved and I just didn’t feel comfortable with that which I spoke to him about.

JA: How are you and Mark Thompson today?

GA: Bomber and I have still got a really great relationship, someone I respected a lot as a coach and who was a bit of a father figure for me at the time. Obviously I had my dad around who was always super supportive but Bomber was someone I could bounce off. What it took to be a professional at that level, just about the game. As much as there was talk about a fracture in our relationship, I think it was made into a bigger thing at the time.

JA: From outside I thought your relationship with Bomber may have played a large part in your decision to leave?

GA: To suggest my relationship with Bomber was a part of the reason why I left is completely untrue. He’s a guy who has played a really big part in my life and there are definitely no hard feelings from my end. I wish him all the best in the future.

JA: Are you involving yourself more in media in recent times?

GA: Yes, via a media platform called Exclusive Insight based on what LeBron James has done with Uninterrupted. It’s a trusted platform where athletes can come and tell their story where they are 100 per cent in control. It is something I will invest more time in after football.

Mark Thompson consoles Gary Ablett after Geelong’s 2008 Grand Final defeat.

JA: Who are some of the most famous athletes you have met?

GA: I love NBA basketball and have spent time with Kevin Durant and Steph Curry. I was interested to learn how they handle the pressure and expectations put on them, and how they recover from games and how they train. We got the opportunity to sit down with Kevin Durant which was very special. I have also met Russell Westbrook.

JA: When do you talk about next year?

GA: It will be the end of the season. It is something I’m thinking about at the moment. Obviously there are two games to go in the season and hopefully a big finals campaign for us but the club and I always agreed to speak about it after the season. How the years goes for me, but how the year goes for the team as well.

JA: Are the body and mind up for another year?

GA: Right now physically I could probably go another year but I have been in the game for 18 years which is a long time. I have to work out mentally if I could jump into another pre-season but the goal has always been to come back to Geelong and win a Premiership and hopefully we can do that this year.

**Book your tickers for “A Night with the Little Master” at The Palms at Crown at Ticketmaster**