Geelong’s Gary Ablett set to fly back into AFL action
Gary Ablett is ready to rejoin his teammates, with Geelong working to secure a flight and transition hub in Queensland for the brilliant Cats match-winner.
Gary Ablett is ready to rejoin his teammates, with Geelong working with the AFL to secure a flight and transition hub in Queensland for the brilliant Cats match-winner.
It was revealed on Friday Ablett would ideally get on a flight to Queensland within the next week before serving 14 days of quarantine on the Gold Coast.
The league’s next official flight is 17 days away on September 1, with Richmond’s Shane Edwards, St Kilda midfielder Dan Hannebery and assistant coach Jarryd Roughead among the players keen to get into those hubs.
But Geelong is keen for Ablett to get into a hub earlier than that date and serve 14 days of quarantine while also being allowed to train.
If Ablett could train for that fortnight it would allow him to play at least the last two games of the AFL home-and-away season in a tune-up for the finals.
Over 400 AFL wives and children were just released from a 14-day quarantine hub on the Gold Coast on Thursday.
The AFL would have to gain permission to set up another hub for a handful of players but the players would need to be able to train on premises rather than be restricted to their rooms for two weeks.
Geelong plays Port Adelaide on Saturday in Round 12, with Ablett having flown home in recent weeks to be with his sick son Levi and wife Jordan. Cats football boss Simon Lloyd said on Friday Ablett was determined to figure in the business end of the season.
“Gaz is keen to head up to Queensland sooner rather than later,” he said.
“We are keen to explore that opportunity. We understand there is a transition hub set up for September 1 but if there is an opportunity he would like to get up there soon.
“There are a number of players across the league who might look at trying to get up there soon. It’s a matter of weeks until September 1 so for us the best scenario would be working with the AFL to get Gary up there sooner.
“I have just received an email from our fitness guys and he has just finished a session today and they are big sessions, so he should move into our program quite smoothly.
“I am sure he would be welcomed by the team and coaches.”
Ablett’s 18-month-old son Levi is battling a rare degenerative disease, with the club fully supporting the player’s decision to return from Perth to spend time with his family.
But Ablett has made clear that this is his last season and is desperate to finish his career in style with another premiership.
He has been in scintillating form and while in Geelong has been training with good mate Andrew Mackie, having taken on his No 4 jumper when he returned to the Cats.
Herald Sun
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