List Mgmt. Ablett to move to Gold Coast

[Selective Retention]

Hi guys, I was wondering why you want to keep Ablett? I understand he is your best player but you guys have so many elite midfielders. Particularly now that the AFL has a new compensation formula and you will basically get two first round picks surely you could draft a key defeciency (maybe a forward and a defender to cover for Scarlett when he goes)?

Sure you may take a hit but I think with these two additional draft picks you could stay at the top for years and years?

But because of the compromised drafts you effectively can't use them for 3-4 years, as if you choose too before then they will be very late picks by the time GC and GWS take their pre selections. Add 3 years to develop them and that's a looooooooooong time in football. Hell 6 years ago Ben Graham was our centre half forward, that's a lifetime ago.

 

[wencat]

Soooooo over it.

 

[whats_at_stake]

But because of the compromised drafts you effectively can't use them for 3-4 years, as if you choose too before then they will be very late picks by the time GC and GWS take their pre selections. Add 3 years to develop them and that's a looooooooooong time in football. Hell 6 years ago Ben Graham was our centre half forward, that's a lifetime ago.

Agree to some extent- but think about it this way- your current midfield/backline/forwardline (i.e. players such as Bartel, Ling, Chapman, Johnson, Scarlett) etc. will all retire/be on the decline in three years- surely then you can say- here are three first round picks (one normal + two compensation) and the new players can develop with these older guys- I think the transition will be good and it could be beneficial.

Sure losing Ablett may prove harmful in the short term but I think its not the end of the world- I see it as a win-win but in my opinion for a longer period of success losing him could be good.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

There was an article in the Sydney Morning Herald today about the GC Suns. It qouted liberally from an interview with the GC's football manager. At one point he said something to the effect of "once we announce our 6-7 first round picks all the interest about the club will not be just be centred around Hunt and (Gary) Ablett". I am paraphrasing here, but you get the message. He is now talking as though it is a given Ablett will play with the GC. I nearly spat my latte out right there! I mean, i assumed he was going, but they seem to be talking now as though its a done deal.

 

[Rellik666]

Is there nothing we can do about this....not Gary per say but the AFL...I for one am sick of this interfering idiot who thinks he can run the AFL like KRudd ran the country....manipulative little......

 

[STC]

Agree to some extent- but think about it this way- your current midfield/backline/forwardline (i.e. players such as Bartel, Ling, Chapman, Johnson, Scarlett) etc. will all retire/be on the decline in three years- surely then you can say- here are three first round picks (one normal + two compensation) and the new players can develop with these older guys- I think the transition will be good and it could be beneficial.

Sure losing Ablett may prove harmful in the short term but I think its not the end of the world- I see it as a win-win but in my opinion for a longer period of success losing him could be good.

The picks will be helpful and I do have faith that Wellsy can find some superstars but let's face it - we don't know what will happen in the future and I'd rather keep Ablett and have a tilt at another flag next year (which is certainly not impossible if we win again this year) than to fall off the pace now and maybe get up again. We will probably (almost definitely) never have a team as good as the one we have now and we need to capitalise.

 

[The rabbi]

I nearly spat my latte out right there! I mean, i assumed he was going, but they seem to be talking now as though its a done deal.

And there may be a very good reason for them talking about it as if it was a done deal. Can I suggest that it is a done deal?

 

[Huntercrow]

This is a crazy situation and I feel sorry for the Geelong club and their supporters.
To have to go through this rubbish is destructive to both the club and Gary Ablett.
The AFL have a lot to answer for as it has instructed GC17 to withhold all announcements until after the season proper.

The Geelong club need to know so they can plan for the future.
The Geelong supporters need to know so they can put this nonsense behind them.
This is going to linger all through the finals and could jeopardize the season.

Even if Gary does decide to stay it will leave a nasty taste.

 

[G0d_]

Well thank me Geelong isn't the Bulldogs. They'd have fired him for being a distraction.

 

[ninjacat]

Can't help but think the AFL are pleased at the destabilizing influence this is having upon our club, let's face it, us winning another flag is BAD for their business, they want the love shared around.

Let's stick it up them and get another flag with Gaz, if he can actually hold it together for that long

F*** you Vlad and Gold Coast Suns.

 

[Copernicus]

There was an article in the Sydney Morning Herald today about the GC Suns. It qouted liberally from an interview with the GC's football manager. At one point he said something to the effect of "once we announce our 6-7 first round picks all the interest about the club will not be just be centred around Hunt and (Gary) Ablett". I am paraphrasing here, but you get the message. He is now talking as though it is a given Ablett will play with the GC. I nearly spat my latte out right there! I mean, i assumed he was going, but they seem to be talking now as though its a done deal.

Wishful thinking that he was referring to Nathan?

 

[JUBJUB]

I hope Jr took a good hard look at the opposition yesterday because that's what he could be playing in next year - a shithouse QLD based team that'll get thumped every week.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Everyone needs to settle down. He aint going anywhere.

 

[DangerHere]

Everyone needs to settle down. He aint going anywhere.

He's gone ...

 

[DangerHere]

Nope he will be staying .. October 12 it will be announced.

I hope you're right

 

[Furious_G]

Carro mentioned this morning of the Offsiders that his article last week may have been an olive branch because he was staying. And the article had change the minds of some officials who thought he was going. Interesting, I hadn't thought about it like that.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

He's gone ...

Says who? The media? lol

 

[STC]

Carro mentioned this morning of the Offsiders that his article last week may have been an olive branch because he was staying. And the article had change the minds of some officials who thought he was going. Interesting, I hadn't thought about it like that.

It may be more than coincidence too that his form has suddenly picked up right after it? Let's hope so

 

[Turbocat]

Carro mentioned this morning of the Offsiders that his article last week may have been an olive branch because he was staying. And the article had change the minds of some officials who thought he was going. Interesting, I hadn't thought about it like that.

I didn't see it like that. Gazza probably was just trying to put the issue to sleep again , iM sure the climate has not been ideal of late. Without a doubt he wants another flag this year and he knows the commotion that the AblettSuns Saga has caused has not helped anyones form.

I suspect he also knows that if we grab another flag with him playing well and he then announces that he has decided to go it may leave plenty of supporters sad but generally people will wish him well. But if he continued to play below his best and the team didn't win then questions will be asked about the effect this has had on the club. He has been a champ of the club but the reaction to him going may well be far different.

His form yesterday showed why we will be screwed no matter what picks we get. He kicked 5 on the bit , one could see him doing what his old man did going forward post 30 and kicking a heap of goals

 

[Moonstuck]

His form yesterday showed why we will be screwed no matter what picks we get. He kicked 5 on the bit , one could see him doing what his old man did going forward post 30 and kicking a heap of goals

He hasn't got Snr's leap and aerial ability to do that post 30.

 

[Turbocat]

He hasn't got Snr's leap and aerial ability to do that post 30.

No but its a different game. How many forwards need to take the spec. mark week in week out. Not many , its more about movement , presentation , 1o1 and ground ball. GA could easily kick 50 -70 a year if he spent most of the time forward

 

[Moonstuck]

No but its a different game. How many forwards need to take the spec. mark week in week out. Not many , its more about movement , presentation , 1o1 and ground ball. GA could easily kick 50 -70 a year if he spent most of the time forward

If you said 30-40 I'd agree but who knows, Matthews wasn't much bigger and kicked 915 goals.

 

[Turbocat]

If you said 30-40 I'd agree but who knows, Matthews wasn't much bigger and kicked 915 goals.

He kicked 5 on Sat 50-70 is only 2-3 average a week.

 

[Moonstuck]

He kicked 5 on Sat 50-70 is only 2-3 average a week.

Yeah but 30+ is unknown territory, some champions go to 35+, others are done by 30.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I remember the AFL admitting that there was a loop hole that meant the Gold Coast could have signed players at the end of last year.

Found it........


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/door-left-open-for-gold-coast/story-e6frf9jf-1225831114726

When was Gary caught talking to the Gold Coast? Early December, just before December 15.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/12/08/129615_news.html

I don't think he has signed during this time but the timing of the meeting wasn't great. I still think he will make his decision at the end of the year and unfortunately I cant see it being with Geelong. Geelong's offer hasn't changed in over 12 months and it wont change before the end of the year so if he wants to stay he would have.

If it comes out that he did sign last year, he wouldn't want to play against us at Skilled Stadium next year!

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I doubt that Ablett has already signed a contract with GC for the following reasons:-

1) How can he sign a contract, while still under contract with Geelong. Surely this is illegal. You can't commit to one club, while being at another.

Does the loophole extend to other clubs as well (Like how every club can do this in NRL) , or is it just another attempt by Demetriou to favour GC and GWS?

2) If Ablett already signed with GC, then why would there have been an article in the paper a couple of months ago, stating that the Gold Coast has increased what they are prepared to offer Ablett. If he already signed, then his payment with GC is locked in, so why would they up the ante later? They wouldn't increase their offer, unless they are still trying to intice Ablett, therefore, he can't have signed.

3) If Ablett already signed with GC, then why would they chase Joel Selwood as well? They can only get ONE uncontracted player from each club (unless Demetriou has changed that rule again), so they wouldn't have chased Selwood, if they already had Ablett locked away. I doubt that Selwood re-signed because he found out that GC couldn't take him anymore, because they already had Gazza.

I am doubtful that GC would create red herrings to throw people off the track. There is no need to offer more money and chase Selwood, if Ablett has signed a contract with GC already.

What he could have done, of course, is committed verbally. But, as the Gold Coast Titans found with Steve Turner, you can't enforce a verbal contract, so he could still stay at Geelong after all. If he did even agree verbally to commit to the Suns in 2011, it is poor form. But, personally, I don't think he has fully made up his mind yet.