Faith, family and food drive Ablett
GARY Ablett Jr has opened up on life as a newlywed, his paleo diet, religious beliefs, strong family ties and his bid to move home to Geelong.
The notoriously private 32-year-old Gold Coast Suns star has admitted family issues were behind his attempt to return to the Cats.
“Family is the No.1 thing to me,” Ablett said in an exclusive interview. “I won’t go into it ... but there are some things going on in the family.”
The dual Brownlow medallist said he wanted “to help out where I can”.
“I expected … the Suns were going to say no, but it was a question I felt needed to be asked. asked.”
Ablett moved to the Gold Coast in 2011 after eight seasons, two premierships and a Brownlow Medal with the Geelong Cats.
“I probably did have high expectations (when I arrived),” he said. “I thought we would’ve had more success on-field than at this point.”
But he is looking forward to his first season with the Suns as a player and not a captain.
“I do want to get another premiership … whether that happens anytime soon, we’ll see.”
But he was coy when asked if he wanted to play one more game with Geelong: “I’m not thinking that far ahead.”
Ablett said he drew great off-field support from wife Jordan, a 25year-old teacher’s aide and model, who he described as his “best friend”. “She’s the most amazing support … she’s someone who helps me get out of bed in the morning and helps me get the best out of myself as a footballer and a person.”
The pair married on New Year’s Day 2016 after meeting through a mutual friend in 2012. Ablett, who follows a paleo diet, said healthy eater Jordan had no trouble adapting.
He also revealed the role religion plays in his life. “Faith is everything to me. I read ‘The Word’ every day, ‘The Bible’.”
Footy’s own “God”, Gary Ablett Snr, has avoided the public eye since retiring in 1997 but Ablett said he was “doing great”.