Gary Ablett suffered burst blood vessel against Kangaroos, coach Rodney Eade reveals

RODNEY Eade admits Gary Ablett is in the wars but insists the Gold Coast captain is OK to take on Geelong despite copping another heavy knock last week.

Gary Ablett battles through last week’s game.

GOLD Coast coach Rodney Eade says captain Gary Ablett has been in the wars but has backed the dual Brownlow Medallist to lead a patched-up midfield against Geelong on Saturday.

The Suns will be without Michael Rischitelli (shoulder) for the trip south while Dion Prestia (shoulder/illness) will be named and will travel to Geelong but will face a fitness test tomorrow.

Running defender Adam Saad has been ruled out with a hip injury, leaving both the Gold Coast midfield and backline wrecked by injury and suspension.

Eade said Ablett battled a burst blood vessel in his calf against the Kangaroos last week and will be right to take on the Cats after getting through training today.

“He’s had a couple of little knocks each week, on the sternum a couple of weeks ago, then his back. His shoulder is fine if people are worried, you’ll notice on the weekend he didn’t even strap his shoulder, so his shoulder is 100 per cent,’’ Eade said.

“He’s trained well this week. It’s just a couple of little knocks here and there affecting him.

“Last week he was a bit stiff with the corked calf, it really wasn’t a big knock, but it hit a blood vessel and burst a blood vessel so there was a lot of blood there, that’s why it swelled up, it wasn’t actually on the muscle. He’s fine.’’

Eade said while Ablett had been below his normal lofty standards, he was still worth his weight in gold.

“There’s no doubt you’d love Gary at his best. I think he’s been more than serviceable. The Brisbane game was a down game, but I thought he was OK on the weekend,’’ he said.

Gary Ablett runs with Jack Martin at Gold Coast training. Picture: David Clark

“He’s just been carrying those little niggles here and there on his body from little knocks.

“It’s been fairly free run this week so hopefully he can perform at that level we’ve come to expect. If Dion plays, the midfield’s not too bad.’’

He said Prestia would only play if he was 100 per cent fit.

Saad is likely to miss a week while Rischitelli will visit a surgeon in Melbourne tomorrow. Eade said Rischitelli should be sidelined for a handful of weeks.

Eade has also been in contact with the AFL umpiring department about the lack of free kicks paid to vice-captain Tom Lynch. He said Lynch could have received “three to five’’ more free kicks against the Kangaroos last week.

Originally published as Gary Ablett suffered burst blood vessel against Kangaroos, coach Rodney Eade reveals