Champion midfielder Gary Ablett has had many try to emulate his game over the past decade with players across the country looking to replicate his consistency, cleanness and poise. The dual Brownlow medallist’s ability to keep his feet and win his own football sees him nearly unrivalled; he is the complete footballer, with the ability to play on the inside or the outside and impact the scoreboard.

As a student of the game, Michael Barlow made sure he kept a close eye on his new teammate in their first game together in the red and gold. After spending seven years in Fremantle’s midfield alongside the likes of Nat Fyfe and David Mundy, the Shepparton product was delighted to be able to insert a little bit of ‘Gaz’ into his own game.

Inspired by the superstar’s trademark sidestep on the Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli in the second term, Barlow pulled out a sidestep of his own in the third quarter to set up Ben Ainsworth for the easiest of goals.

READ: Ablett all smiles after return

“I’ve played with him for about one game now and I’ve learnt the sidestep off him,” Barlow told SUNS TV after his team’s 21-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in JLT3.

“First time I reckon I’ve ever sidestepped anyone was tonight, so I just took a few pointers off Gaz throughout the first half and managed to do one myself.”

With Ablett and former Crow Jarryd Lyons added to the mix for the first time in 2017, Gold Coast rolled out arguably the strongest midfield contingent in its history.

Along with the trio of Ablett, Barlow and Lyons, Pearce Hanley, Touk Miller, David Swallow, Aaron Hall and Will Brodie all rotated through the centre square and the team sizzled early against last year’s premiers, kicking 11 of the first 13 goals to open up a 49-point lead before ultimately falling short.

WATCH: JLT3 Highlights v Western Bulldogs

Barlow said the team was able to play the way they wanted to in the opening half and things will improve more as the team plays more together and gains an understanding on how to work as a tight unit, but it’s important that translates to a successful performance in round one against Brisbane.

“I think it’s a bit of symmetry of getting the group together and having Gary out there for the first time tonight (and) JL, Jarryd Lyons,” Barlow said.

“Just to have probably our best compliment together, working together. We’ve been training together obviously a lot over the last two or three months but to get out there in a competitive game and put together what we wanted to, how we wanted to play.

“It was really pleasing but it counts for nothing going into round one if we don’t deliver then.”