Matthew Scarlett should play on, says Gary Ablett Jr
FORMER Geelong superstar Gary Ablett Jr would love to see Matthew Scarlett put retirement thoughts on hold and play on.
FORMER Geelong superstar Gary Ablett Jr would love to see Matthew Scarlett put retirement thoughts on hold and play on next year.
The Gold Coast captain feels the champion defender still has the physical ability to perform at his brilliant best as the Cats' chief defender if he went around for another season.
But while Ablett has "no doubt" Scarlett could play again in 2013, he says the biggest hurdle will be whether the six-time All-Australian has the mental drive to continue for a 16th season.
"I think if he wanted to (play on) he could, there's no doubt about that," Ablett told the Geelong Advertiser.
"But I think it's probably more a mental thing with Matty. He's been such a fantastic player for such a long time and he's also achieved a lot individually and with the team.
"I think it's probably more a motivational thing for Matty to get out there and play again.
"Hopefully he does get out there and play again because he's such a fantastic player and he's been a great player for the Geelong Football Club."
Scarlett, 33, has indicated this year will most likely be his last but will make a final call later in the season.
While retirement looms as the favoured option at this stage, Scarlett has conceded he could be persuaded to play on next year if the team needed him.
Should he play on next year, the 277-game superstar would likely pass 300 AFL matches and move to second on the club's all-time games record list, behind Ian Nankervis (325).
Geelong's reliance on Scarlett remains high and coach Chris Scott in late May admitted "he is critical for us right at the moment".
Since the start of 2009, Geelong has a winning percentage of 85 per cent when Scarlett plays. When he doesn't play, it drops to 61 per cent.
The Cats also leak, on average, a few extra goals a game in his absence. For a side that has been almost unbeatable over that time, it's a significant discrepancy.
Earlier this year, retired premiership teammate Cameron Mooney implored the three-time premiership player to consider playing on to reach the 300-game milestone.
"My gut feel is that he will probably go out. And if they win another premiership, he will definitely go out," Mooney said.
"I would love to see him go on one more year and get to 300, but he is a man of his word and because of that I think he will probably walk out.
"I think he could get through another pre-season unscathed but he is not a guy who wants to go on too long. He doesn't want to be the guy where people say, 'He has gone on six months or a year too long'."