Nathan Ablett lines up for Newcomb clash
IT’S the news that has BFL salivating: Nathan Ablett is back.
Modewarre has confirmed that Ablett, a 2007 premiership player at Geelong, will line up in today’s clash against Newcomb.
“He’s ready to go,” Warriors president Mick Fitzgerald said yesterday. “The thing with Nathan is he didn’t want to get picked because of his name, he wanted to get picked because he’s earnt it and he’s done everything right from a training perspective.
“Obviously he’s had a lot of time out of the game, so he wanted to get a bit of touch and feel and he’s getting there. He’s really looking forward to it.”
Ablett has been a regular at training and has ticked all the boxes from a fitness requirement.
“From the start of February until now, he’s been a permanent fixture at training,” Fitzgerald said.
“Nathan looks after himself really well from a diet point of view and he had that natural sort of fitness, so he’s just been trying to get footy fit.”
The Warriors are champing at the bit to see Ablett in ma- roon and blue, but the former Cats forward has also relished being back in footy.
“He’s really embraced the group,” Fitzgerald said.
“He’s a really likeable guy and he’s engaged the group and the group has engaged him as an individual. He’s feedback to the group, whether it’s a 200-game veteran or a five-game rookie, has been the same.
“He’s very open in expressing his views on where they can improve and how he can work in with them. Contrary to what people might think, in the football environment he’s a really good communicator and he’s looking forward to playing and the club is looking forward to him playing.”
Ablett will almost certainly play forward, but the Warriors haven’t ruled out throwing the AFL export into the middle.
“Funnily enough, when he played all his footy at Modda before he went to Geelong, he was a midfielder,” Fitzgerald said.
“So he’ll probably pinch-hit on ball but play forward.”
Ablett, despite his height (195cm), is unlikely to ruck in the absence of playing-coach John Meesen, who was dealt a two-match ban at the AFL Barwon tribunal.