Champ sees lots of room for improvement
GARY Ablett might have arrived at Geelong hoping for some more freedom.
The little champion has been tagged almost every minute he has been on the field for the past decade.
And once again he attracted a shadow around the MCG as he racked up another 39 possessions in his first game back for the Cats in the win over Melbourne.
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin paid Ablett the ultimate compliment, with Corey Maynard ordered to follow his every move.
Ablett was clearly one of Geelong’s best, but this wasn’t a Gazza spectacular. It was more workmanlike than that. He accumulated his touches, made some mistakes and kicked a beautiful goal.
You get the feeling no one will be happier than the former Suns captain when superstar teammate Paddy Dangerfield returns from his hamstring injury in the Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn.
Perhaps it will finally give Gazza some more breathing space.
Ablett was happy to get the first one out of the way yesterday after a preseason hamstring injury.
While 39 possessions is a monster day at the office for most players, when you are one of the best players the game has seen, the standards are high.
“I was rusty early,” Ablett said. “It was good to get it out of the way and get a win because the boys fought hard, but there is lots to improve on.”