Ex-coach bemused by Ablett behaviour
Eade calls antics ‘very odd’
FORMER Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade has labelled Gary Ablett’s behaviour last week as “very odd” after the Suns star ran away from reporters.
In a bizarre series of events, Ablett was named in the Gold Coast team to take on Port Adelaide but was withdrawn within hours.
It was likely to be his last match for the club.
Rather than answer questions from the media, Ablett ran away from waiting TV cameras.
“It was very odd,” Eade said on SEN radio.
“He is such a big name and he has got cameras everywhere around. I’m not too sure what context that was in or whether he knew what they might be asking or what the point was.
“That is quite unusual for him. He has usually got a smiling face and certainly at times he has said no to cameras or reporters.
“It was odd (to run away). I’m not too sure why he actually did that.”
Ablett was widely criticised for missing the final game of the year, with the Suns going down by more than 100 points.
Former Melbourne great David Schwarz believes the Gold Coast players would have been filthy with their star player.
“Imagine the players ... they would be going ‘you selfish little mongrel’,” he said on SEN radio.
“You start something, you finish it. Whether it was Liam Pickering or Dean Solomon or Tony Cochrane, someone should have got on the phone and said ‘Gaz, we demand you to come across with us’. It is more the symbolism than anything. You just have to be there.
“If he isn’t right to play, I understand, but gee whiz. Why does he run from the cameras? Why not just call a press conference? There are too many questions here that are left open.”
After having his trade request denied last year, Ablett (pictured) is expected to make the same bid this off-season, with a return to Geelong on his radar.
However, Eade believes there is still a lot to play out before a deal can be done.
“You’re never going to know until Gary talks about it,” he said.
“It doesn’t (look like he will still be at the Suns in 2018) but he is still under contract. If the Suns either say no we are not trading you or a deal can’t get done, what happens then?”