Gazza may have to fight for selection
FORMER Melbourne captain Garry Lyon believes Geelong champion Gary Ablett will soon no longer be an automatic selection in the Cats’ best 22.
A two-time premiership player, dual Brownlow medallist, eight-time All-Australian and six-time club best-andfairest, Ablett is entering his 19th and final AFL season.
But he struggled to make an impact during his two Marsh Community Series games after also being overlooked for selection in the fire-relief State of Origin clash.
Ablett had eight possessions against Gold Coast on February 22 and finished goalless against Essendon from 12 disposals while also giving away three free kicks this week.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Lyon was discussing a possible match committee conundrum at Adelaide and whether a spot in the best 22 could ever come down to veteran Taylor Walker or firstround draftee Fischer McAsey.
Lyon then swivelled to Ablett and suggested he might not be one of the first players picked in the Cats side in 2020.
“You’ve got to earn your spot — I think that’s the way it should be there. ‘Tex’ earns his spot now and I think you’ve got to keep it,” Lyon said.
“I mean we watched Gary Ablett (on Monday). Gazza’s going to be there in Round 1, but he won’t be automatic (selection) from now on.
“They (the Cats) will be saying, ‘Gazza, righto, yep he’s good’. But there’ll be a conversation at some stage.”
The Cats star played in 24 of the club’s 25 games in 2019, missing one to serve the first suspension of his career.
But his output appeared to diminish in the latter stages of the season, producing just one goal across three finals.