Selwood welcomes back Gaz

GEELONG’S Scott Selwood says the Cats’ playing group will welcome Gary Ablett back with open arms, believing he will help them improve as they look to make the leap back to premiership contenders.

While the former Gold Coast Suns captain’s return to the club synonymous with his family name is a winner with fans and club officials, Selwood said the playing group was equally on board.

“We haven’t seen him yet because we’re still in the offseason but we’re very excited, we’re absolutely pumped,” said Selwood, who raced the teams event with Cats clubmates Sam Menegola and Jackson Thurlow at the Noosa triathlon yesterday.

“He’s a favourite son.” Selwood recognised Ablett’s defection might not be as popular on the Gold Coast.

“He’s done so much for footy up here (in Queensland) and I know it’s probably a bit sour that they’re going to miss him up here but we’re loving it, we think he needs to finish his footy in Geelong,” he said.

Geelong fans have long campaigned for Ablett to finish his career at the club where his father, Gary Snr, earnt the nickname “God” before he and brother Nathan helped the club break a 44-year premiership drought in 2007.

– EMMA GREENWOOD