SUNS GUNS WANT TO SEE MORE OF ABLETT

GOLD Coast’s young stars are becoming concerned over the extended absence of captain Gary Ablett, whose return from a shoulder injury could be another month away.

Suns coach Rodney Eade said over the weekend that Ablett’s teammates had approached the Brownlow medallist for clarity.

Ablett’s comeback was aborted after Round 2 and he has taken longer than expected to overcome last year’s shoulder reconstruction.

The onballer is refusing to take painkilling injections to combat the first major injury of his career and has only used anti-inflammatories sparingly.

There are suggestions Ablett (pictured) is sweating on the perfect recovery and does not want to play at a level below the lofty one he has set.

When asked if Ablett had not been around the club throughout his rehab as much as the club would have liked, Eade was clear.

“No that’s not true, I can categorically deny that,” Eade said. “His rehab has been very good, he’s been fine.”

Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft was yesterday adamant Ablett was not ready and risked aggravating the joint again if he played too soon.

Ablett’s prolonged absence yesterday prompted Matthew Lloyd to ask on Channel 9: “Is the tail still wagging the dog there at the Gold Coast?”

Nathan Brown said: “Reading between the lines, what everybody is talking about but not really saying is, ‘He’s right to go but he doesn’t want to play’. Is that right?”

Eade, speaking before Saturday’s Round 9 loss to Hawthorn, said players had approached Ablett.

“I’ve spoken to him individually and certainly some players, as teammates, have spoken to him and are really keen to get him back because they rate him so highly ... but rate him as a leader and obviously love his presence on the field,” Eade told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

“I would think, hopefully at worst, it (return) will be the game after the bye.”

Ablett last week resumed contact training and got through fine, according to Ashcroft.

“It’s frustrating for everyone because we keep saying two-four weeks, but we really don’t know any different because we have to assess him each week,” he said.