Gazza comes at a cost

Cats may need to give up second-round pick for Ablett

GEELONG should be prepared to hand over a secondround pick to reunite with Gary Ablett, according to list builder Gary Buckenara.

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

The player turned 33 last month but his manager, Liam Pickering, says he has three years of football left.

The Cats have no firstround pick this year but two second-rounders, which they are not willing to hand over.

But Buckenara says if the Cats want a star to round out a team for premiership contention, they have to pay the price.

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

Since 2005, only five men have played a significant number games from the season after turning 33.

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

Geelong is about to sign exciting young midfielder Brandan Partiff on a one-year extension and Nakia Cockatoo on a two-season extension.

Exciting defender Tom Stewart, 24, signed an initial three-year deal when taken at pick 40 in last season’s draft.

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

He is out for three months with achilles tendon issues and despite his exceptional talent faces a nervous wait on his future at Geelong.

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

If one of those players left 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 yesterday the Cats could also consider handing Gold Coast a later pick and a depth player.

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

“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 thirdrounder and you get Ablett.

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