GOOD AS NEW
Shoulder Hamstrings Motivation Midfield
GEELONG says it is realistic to believe Gary Ablett will play almost every game next year, confident his body can still tolerate a full-time midfield role.
The Cats are planning for Ablett to be a frontline midfielder, declaring “we didn’t bring him in to be a forward”.
Cats coach Chris Scott also said the 33-year-old’s troublesome shoulder appeared rock solid after having a complex arthroscopic operation.
GEELONG says it is realistic to believe Gary Ablett will play almost every game next year, confident his body can still tolerate a full-time role in the midfield.
The Cats are planning for Ablett to play a frontline midfield role, declaring “we didn’t bring him in to be a forward”.
Cats coach Chris Scott also said the 33-year-old’s troublesome shoulder appeared rock solid after having a complex arthroscopic operation, known as a Latarjet procedure, that makes it “very, very difficult for his shoulder to dislocate again”.
“Like a few of our players ... we think they can play forward but they’re mids,” Scott said.
“We brought him in to be a midfielder, but with an open mind as well. We need to see how he plays.
“I don’t have any doubt he could play as a permanent forward with great success. But, again, I think that speaks to where his motivation’s at.
“He didn’t come to us and say ‘ look, I think I’m almost cooked here, can you just hide me in a forward pocket for a couple of years and I’ll snag you 30 goals a year’.
“He has an aspiration to help the team as much as possible, and we all believe that’s in the midfield first.”
With a surplus of midfielders, Geelong’s forward line could benefit with Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Nakia Cockatoo and Sam Menegola among a group of players likely to spend time in attack at the feet of Tom Hawkins and Stewart Crameri. Ablett, too, may still sneak down on occasion.
Also in contention are nippy small forwards Cory Gregson and Lincoln McCarthy, who are both making steady progress from longterm injury setbacks.
It comes amid confirmation Harry Taylor will return to a more permanent role in defence.
Asked if it was possible for Ablett to play every game, Scott said: “I think it is. But I think we just need to wait-andsee how it all plays out.”
“We don’t have any intention of limiting him at this stage,” he said. “But we need to have a contingency there.
“If he did miss — our expectation at the moment is he might miss a couple — it’s not as if he’s playing 14 games a year.”
Ablett played 15, six, 14 and 14 games across his last four seasons at Gold Coast, suffering knee, shoulder, hamstring and calf issues.
But he started training last month, earlier than required, and has been one of the standout performers.
“His motivation’s impressed me,” Scott said. “I must admit I didn’t expect him to come in and say ‘hey, I’m not up for the hard work and I just want to cruise through’.
“It’s not unexpected that he’s saying the right things. But he’s motivated to train, his body’s in good shape, he’s had some unrelated issues over the last couple of years.
“But the most potentially concerning issue was the shoulder. But he’s had a Latarjet procedure there, which makes it very, very difficult for his shoulder to dislocate again.
“His hamstring injuries weren’t muscle injuries. They were more tendinopathy issues, which can be annoying, but they shouldn’t be linked to older players with muscle strain injuries.
“He’s trained really well, he’s got a desire to show his competitiveness on the track and try and instil that in some of the young guys as well.
“We wanted our players to grow from those guys. I’m not a believer that they grow from listening to them, I’m a believer that they grow from getting knocked over in a one-onone at training, or watching them go about their business.
“So the early signs are good in that respect.”