Ablett’s manager clears house talk

GARY Ablett’s manager, Liam Pickering, says the superstar midfielder decision to sell his Gold Coast home has no relation to his plans for football.

The relisting of Ablett’s Ashmore property has added to speculation the dual Brownlow Medallist was already planning his Suns exit at the end of 2017 despite being contracted for next year.

Pickering staunchly defended Ablett and said his personal plans for his house had nothing to do with his career.

“Absolutely not. He has been talking about (selling the house) for a couple of years,” he said. “The house is a bit big and he has got a fair bit to maintain so it’s got nothing to do with his decision.

“He has been looking at trying to get rid of it and down size for a good part of 12 months, maybe more. I wouldn’t read too much into the house.”

Ablett’s plans for 2018 have been the centre of attention this season after the former Geelong premiership player requested a trade back to the Cats at the end of last year.

It was shut down at the time and the Suns have been adamant that Ablett is contracted and a required player for 2018.

Ablett, however, has not ruled out asking for another trade this year or retiring.

Pickering said no decision had been made on Ablett’s future and he’d discuss it with his client in the coming weeks after the end of the season.

“I need to sit down with Gary at the end of the year,” Pickering said.

“He just wants to get through the season, there is a game left and he wants to play this week and he wants to get over the hamstring injury.

“At the end of the day he is committed and wants to play the next game. We will see what happens after that.

“He is a contracted and that’s the reality. He is a contracted Gold Coast player so that’s about where it sits.

“We haven’t made a decision even though last year we talked about a trade. It didn’t happen and we said all right, we know the situation from a contractual point of view.”

Pickering said Ablett understood the interest in his future and was philosophical about the discussions surrounding it.