Geelong likely to have to give something up to bring Gary Ablett back, says Gary Buckenara

GARY Ablett’s potential move back to Geelong could get complicated, and veteran AFL list builder Gary Buckenara has his thoughts on how a deal might get done. HAVE YOUR SAY

GEELONG should be prepared to hand over a second-round pick to reunite with Gary Ablett, according to veteran list builder Gary Buckenara.

Former Hawks recruiter Buckenara says despite Ablett’s age he is still at the peak of his powers and a massive marketing force.

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Ablett turned 33 last month but his manager Liam Pickering says he still has three years of football left as he roars into Brownlow contention this season.

The Cats have no first-round pick but two second-rounders which they are not willing to hand over in a trade for Ablett.

But Buckenara says when you want a star to round out a team that is worthy of premiership contention you have to pay the price.

“If he wasn’t contracted you wouldn’t have to give up too much at all,” he told the Herald Sun.

“But you will get a couple of years out of him and from a club point of view you would get an extra 5000 members joining up.

“I would have thought a second-rounder or an early third-rounder would be all you would want to offer up from a Geelong point of view.

“If you were Gold Coast you would be starting asking for a first-rounder and hope you get a second.

“Hopefully somewhere in between they can work something out.”

Gary Ablett could rejoin premiership teammate Joel Selwood. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Ablett’s father Gary Sr played 39 games after he turned 33 before a knee injury ended his career a month short of his 35th birthday.

Since 2005 only five men have played a significant amount of games from the next season onwards after turning 33.

But AFL games record holder Brent Harvey played 131, Dustin Fletcher 106, Robert Harvey 66, Corey Enright 44 and Adam Goodes 41.

If the Cats could eke three seasons out of Ablett he would be worth of a second-round pick.

Geelong is about to sign exciting young midfielder Brandan Parfitt on a one-year extension past his initial two-year deal and Nakia Cockatoo on a two-season extension.

Exciting small defender Tom Stewart, 24, signed an initial three-year deal when taken at pick 40 in last season’s draft so is locked away for some time.

Cory Gregson, most likely out for the year with navicular issues, has another year on his deal but injury-prone Josh Cowan does not.

Steven Motlop is a free agent. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

He is out for three months with ongoing achilles issues and despite his exceptional talent faces a nervous wait to see if he has a future at Geelong.

The club must still deal with free agent Steven Motlop, happy to park talks until the back end of the season, and Daniel Menzel.

If one of those players departed it would hand the Cats a compensation pick that could be used to satisfy Gold Coast or play some part in a trade.

Buckenara said the Cats could also consider handing Gold Coast a later pick and a depth player at the Cats.

“Gold Coast could do with another player. Whether it’s a pick and a C-grade player or someone who adds depth at Geelong.

“Maybe they might try to do a third-rounder and a player who is in their best 30?

“Jake Kolodjashnij’s brother (Kade) plays for Gold Coast. It might be give us him and a third-rounder and you get Ablett back.

“It would appease both clubs and you get the deal done.”