Nakia Cockatoo tells Gary Ablett No.5 isn’t up for grabs
GARY Ablett is finally returning to the Cattery but Nakia Cockatoo didn’t waste time letting his new teammate know his No.5 jumper was off limits.
Geelong
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NAKIA Cockatoo didn’t waste time letting Geelong recruit Gary Ablett know his No.5 jumper was off limits.
The number Gazza will wear in his Cats’ return is set to be the subject of much intrigue.
The two obvious numbers are taken.
Cockatoo wears Ablett Sr’s famous No.5 and Cameron Guthrie wears No.29, which Gazza wore at Geelong before becoming Gold Coast’s inaugural captain in 2010.
Just moments after the Ablett trade became official, Cockatoo tweeted: “@GaryAblettJnr I better hide my number 5 #gazzaisback”.
Interestingly, the number he wore at the Suns (No.9) is taken by his good friend and former Gold Coast teammate Zac Smith.
Gazza’s brother Nathan wore No.23 in the Cats’ 2007 premiership team but that is now worn by Aaron Black.
Some of the available numbers for next year include 4, 11, 13, 18 and 32.
Given Gazza’s love for American sport, could he take a leaf out of the NBA and be the first AFL player to go with 00?
NEW BLUE OFF THE RACK
WHILE Essendon quickly produced the regulation set-up picture of Jake Stringer posing with John Worsfold to celebrate his arrival, it was a very different story for new Carlton recruit Matt Kennedy.
The former Giant was having lunch in his hometown of Wagga at The Duke of Kent Hotel when news came through that he’d been traded to the Blues for selection 28.
Kennedy was quickly tracked down by the local paper, The Daily Advertiser, who then escorted him to the Sportsman’s Warehouse as they searched for a Carlton jumper.
Luckily there was one in stock although they didn’t even bother purchasing it with Kennedy posing for the photo with the security tag still in place.
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