IT’S JUST NOT RIGHT
GARY Ablett will start preseason early after claiming he is physically ready to play every game next AFL season.
On his first official day back as a Geelong player after a seven-year absence, the two-time Brownlow medallist said he was “super excited” about returning to Kardinia Park.
While many experts see Ablett playing mainly up forward, he was eyeing off a place in the midfield with Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood in Round 1.
“I’m 33 now, the body is still feeling really great, I feel I have got some good years left in the midfield and then I may drift forward after that,” he said.
“I have been doing a fair bit of training just to make sure I am ready to go day one of pre-season. There are no issues with the shoulder.
“I want to be out there for all 22 (regular season) games and hopefully finals as well.”
Ablett said he had no regrets about leaving Geelong in 2010 to take up a multimillion-dollar deal at the Gold Coast, where he won four best and fairest awards and was captain.
Ablett shied away from the limelight in his first stint at Geelong but he says he is looking forward to playing on the big stage again.
“Does Friday night footy still exist?” he said jokingly.
“It has been a different experience, there is no doubt about that. I have missed finals football.
“I am a competitive person … so it has been hard not being able to experience that the last seven years.’’
Ablett did not want to elaborate on the tough time his family had gone through over the past month after the death of his sister Natasha.