ABLETT ON ABLET T COMING IN NOVEMBER
THERE’S no premiership cup for book publishers, but Hardie Grant Books is celebrating like it just won a grand final after acquiring Gary Ablett Jr’s autobiography.
It will be released on November 5, to coincide with the Little Master’s last game of AFL before kicking off his retirement.
And the autobiography will be short odds to hit the bestsellers list in Geelong, with never-before-seen photos, guest chapters from Gary Ablett Sr, Mark Thompson and Joel Selwood, and a rare glimpse into the thoughts of the player considered by many to be the greatest of the modern era.
“It’s been a really interesting process to go back over the years, plus I’ve been lucky to have a few others step in with their recollections, like Mum and Dad, Joel Selwood and Mark Thompson,” Ablett said.
“Football has given me so much over the years, it will be great to share my story.”
Hardie Grant shared a few hints into the topics covered in the book, which will include his famous father’s influence; joining the Cats along with his brother Nathan; becoming a star player and the pressure that brought; leaving Geelong to captain the newly-minted Gold Coast Suns; the joy of returning home to the Cats, even though it was accompanied by a tragic family event; settling back in Victoria with his wife Jordan and baby Levi, and his look to a future that will no doubt always have football somewhere in it.
“Gary has been such a superstar and has had an unbelievable career — his story will fascinate everyone,” Hardie Grant Publisher Pam Brewster said.
“But not only that, probably for the first time ever, Gary will reveal the pivotal moments that have most affected his career.”
Half the book may need to be set aside to list the achievements of Ablett, who is a dual premiership player, dual Brownlow Medallist, dual NAB Cup winner, eight-time All-Australian, a record five-time AFL Players Association’s MVP, a threetime recipient of the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year award, dual Carji Greeves medallist, a Cats life member and Geelong Hall of Famer.