Ablett out of IR series

BUAL Brownlow Medal winner Gary Ablett has withdrawn from the Australian team to play Ireland in the upcoming International Rules series.

Ablett has claimed All-Australian honours eight times in his 302-game career, but was set to make his first International Rules appearance at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

However, an AFL spokesman confirmed yesterday that the 33-year-old has dropped out of the two-match series for personal reasons. Ablett’s sister Natasha died suddenly just days after he was named in the initial squad in October.

He is also completing a move from Gold Coast to Geelong after the Suns agreed to trade him to the Cats so he could be closer to family.

The league spokesman said a replacement player would not be required. Ablett had been one of the headline players in the star-studded squad to face the Irish.