GAZ CRAVES CAT FLAG

GARY Ablett wants to instil his competitive instincts into his new and young Geelong teammates as he revealed a burning desire to win another premiership before retirement.

After seven years and 110 games at Gold Coast, Ablett said the time was right to return home and be closer to family but there was also some unfinished business.

The 33-year-old has achieved almost everything in the game — two premierships with the Cats, two Brownlow Medals, six club best-andfairests, eight All-Australian selections and five AFLPA MVPs — but after failing to play a single final with the Suns he is determined to achieve more team success.

“We play footy to win premierships and that’s what I’ve come back for, so I’m going to be putting in the work,” Ablett said.

“I play to win. Whether that’s a game of table tennis with the boys in the rooms or a challenge out on the training track or game day, I want to win.

“That was the first conversation I had with [Geelong captain Joel] Selwood when I got back to the club is how can we make this group super competitive.

“We’re going to work through that over pre-season and I’m going to be running some little drills out on the training track, making sure the boys are super competitive. I truly believe that if you can get guys to be competitive in everything they do that transitions into the weekend.”

Ablett also returned to preseason training early to get to know the young players at the club.

Last week he was unveiled in his new No.4 jumper with the rest of the Cats’ recruits.

Ablett said he knew leaving Geelong for Gold Coast would push him “out of my comfort zone” but playing with a young, inexperienced group at the Suns helped him to develop as a leader.

There was speculation he would retire if he did not secure his desired trade to the Cats but after several shoulder operations in recent years he said thoughts of hanging up the boots were never far from his mind.

“I reckon I’ve considered that about five or six times throughout my career,” Ablett told RSN radio yesterday.

“It is a tough game and I’m going into my 17th pre-season.

“Whether I have seriously considered it or not, there definitely has been times where you question why you’re still doing it.

“I’ve had a few serious injuries over the last couple of years with two shoulder reconstructions, so it is something that has crossed my mind.”