The Age Footy Legend no 7: Gary Ablett Snr

[iameviljez]

Maybe, but having lived through ALL those you named, except Coleman, I will always have GAS as GOAT. 3 consecutive seasons of 120+ goals at his age is unsurpassable imho.

Especially in an era where players did not play well after 30. (Mind you, it was an era where forwards could kick centuries, too).

 

[Tony Barber]

Maybe, but having lived through ALL those you named, except Coleman, I will always have GAS as GOAT. 3 consecutive seasons of 120+ goals at his age is unsurpassable imho.

I've probably said this before here.
But I actually quit playing footy solely due to the fact that I was not getting to see him play every weekend.

And for the youngsters. We were playing on Saturday afternoons only back then. With the exception of the once a year Sunday game in Sydney.

 

[Partridge]

Reckon had Gary Ablett Jr been a one club player the margin between him and his dad would have been negligible in the eyes of plenty of Geelong supporters.

Not so sure. I'll freely admit Ablett junior's absolute peak years were probably at Gold Coast. If not for injury he was sailing away with a 3rd Brownlow medal as well. So I don't just consider his Geelong years - and for me he was our best player by a mile from 2007-2010. Even among midfielders it wasn't close. But I'd still put his dad ahead.

 

[gogeelongcats]

Gary Ablett Sr. is one of the greatest players in the game's history. He has never been charged with any offences but has faced judgment from some quarters. Should we exclude someone from recognition due to perceived indiscretions and grandstanding? It’s absurd.

Ablett Sr. deserves to be acknowledged as a legend of the game. Denying him that honour diminishes the credibility of the award itself.

 

[iameviljez]

Gary Ablett Sr. is one of the greatest players in the game's history. He has never been charged with any offences but has faced judgment from some quarters. Should we exclude someone from recognition due to perceived indiscretions and grandstanding? It’s absurd.

Ablett Sr. deserves to be acknowledged as a legend of the game. Denying him that honour diminishes the credibility of the award itself.

When almost 40, a 20 year old groupie was killed by hard drugs he supplied her on a massive bender one-on-one in his private hotel room.

He also assaulted his ex-wife’s new partner.

This is serious stuff. The threshold for “legend” is a lot higher than for that for “not in prison”.

 

[dazbroncos]

Not so sure. I'll freely admit Ablett junior's absolute peak years were probably at Gold Coast. If not for injury he was sailing away with a 3rd Brownlow medal as well. So I don't just consider his Geelong years - and for me he was our best player by a mile from 2007-2010. Even among midfielders it wasn't close. But I'd still put his dad ahead.

Agreed. GAJ was perhaps more constant but GAS just did it bigger and more flashy all the time.
No knock on GAJ… like having a painting judged second to Michelangelo
Go Catters

 

[Mick F]

Totally disagree with that. His football intelligence was as good as anyone who has ever played the game.

Pendlebury isn't within a million miles of Ablett senior in any capacity.

One would have thought that a high level of football intelligence would show in leadership attributes.

 

[Cataholic]

Totally disagree with that. His football intelligence was as good as anyone who has ever played the game.

Pendlebury isn't within a million miles of Ablett senior in any capacity.

Pendlebury is a good player, but definitely not in GAS' league.

 

[Partridge]

Pendlebury is a good player, but definitely not in GAS' league.

For most of his career, Pendlebury hasn't even been the best player at Collingwood. Ludicrous comparison.

 

[Partridge]

When almost 40, a 20 year old groupie was killed by hard drugs he supplied her on a massive bender one-on-one in his private hotel room.

He also assaulted his ex-wife’s new partner.

This is serious stuff. The threshold for “legend” is a lot higher than for that for “not in prison”.

True. But it's also got very little to do with football. If the "character" qualification was really to be followed - half the players listed in the hall of fame would be ineligible immediately. Leigh Matthews for starters would be removed instantly (you can't have a hall of famer who was a serial king hit merchant - with ample evidence, and was actually charged for it).

To me it's only about what happened on the field. And by that there's barely a handful of other players at his level.

 

[Partridge]

Agreed. GAJ was perhaps more constant but GAS just did it bigger and more flashy all the time.
No knock on GAJ… like having a painting judged second to Michelangelo
Go Catters

I think it's a different eras thing. Ablett junior benefited enormously from vastly more professional training, club culture, coaching, everything. Ablett senior didn't have any of that, he was still driving trucks for Ron Hovey as late as 1989.

Mild peeve of mine (not directed at you), I still think Ablett senior was way, WAY more consistent than people give credit for. Don't believe me? I wouldn't either. Just look at the following:

• 1984 - 33 goals from a wing, won his only Best and Fairest. From only 15 games played.
• 1985 - 82 goals from a half forward flank. Included hauls of 9, 8 and 6 (twice).
• 1986 - 65 goals from 15 games. Included hauls of 8, 7, and 6 (three times).
• 1987 - 53 goals from 17 games. If ever he had a "down" year this was it. More than passable for anyone else though.
• 1988 - 82 goals from 21 games. Included hauls of 11, 10,7, and 6 (twice).
• 1989 - 89 goals from 23 games. Included hauls of 14, 9, 8, 7 (twice), and 6.
• 1990 - 75 goals from 17 games. Included hauls of 12, 10, 8, 7, and 6.
• 1991 - 28 goals from 14 games on the back of zero pre-season.
• 1992 - 72 goals from 21 games. Included hauls of 9 and 6.
• 1993 - 124 goals from 17 games. Included hauls of 14, 12, 11, 10 (twice), 8 (twice), and 7 (three times).
• 1994 - 129 goals from 25 games. Included hauls of 14, 10, 7 (four times), and 6 (four times).
• 1995 - 122 goals from 22 games. Included hauls of 9, 8 (twice), 7 (four times), and 6 (five times).
• 1996 - 69 goals from 17 games. Included hauls of 9 (twice), 7, and 6 (three times).

That level of consistency is supernatural.

 

[Partridge]

One would have thought that a high level of football intelligence would show in leadership attributes.

He was co-Captain in 1995 and we made the Grand final. Very different job requirement then of course but it's not like when he did it we plummetted.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I think it's a different eras thing. Ablett junior benefited enormously from vastly more professional training, club culture, coaching, everything. Ablett senior didn't have any of that, he was still driving trucks for Ron Hovey as late as 1989.

Mild peeve of mine (not directed at you), I still think Ablett senior was way, WAY more consistent than people give credit for. Don't believe me? I wouldn't either. Just look at the following:

• 1984 - 33 goals from a wing, won his only Best and Fairest. From only 15 games played.
• 1985 - 82 goals from a half forward flank. Included hauls of 9, 8 and 6 (twice).
• 1986 - 65 goals from 15 games. Included hauls of 8, 7, and 6 (three times).
• 1987 - 53 goals from 17 games. If ever he had a "down" year this was it. More than passable for anyone else though.
• 1988 - 82 goals from 21 games. Included hauls of 11, 10,7, and 6 (twice).
• 1989 - 89 goals from 23 games. Included hauls of 14, 9, 8, 7 (twice), and 6.
• 1990 - 75 goals from 17 games. Included hauls of 12, 10, 8, 7, and 6.
• 1991 - 28 goals from 14 games on the back of zero pre-season.
• 1992 - 72 goals from 21 games. Included hauls of 9 and 6.
• 1993 - 124 goals from 17 games. Included hauls of 14, 12, 11, 10 (twice), 8 (twice), and 7 (three times).
• 1994 - 129 goals from 25 games. Included hauls of 14, 10, 7 (four times), and 6 (four times).
• 1995 - 122 goals from 22 games. Included hauls of 9, 8 (twice), 7 (four times), and 6 (five times).
• 1996 - 69 goals from 17 games. Included hauls of 9 (twice), 7, and 6 (three times).

That level of consistency is supernatural.

Nice work Partridge
I did some numbers a few years ago for GAS goal averages - from memory he's streets ahead on average per game as a non FF and leads the average for a FF for the years he played there permanently.

 

[iameviljez]

To me it's only about what happened on the field. And by that there's barely a handful of other players at his level.

There has to be SOME point at which you draw that line. I mean, surely no matter how good a player was, if he murdered someone, he's not getting in.

 

[Cataholic]

There has to be SOME point at which you draw that line. I mean, surely no matter how good a player was, if he murdered someone, he's not getting in.

Probably not.

But murder is another scenario.