It was another injury-interrupted year at Metricon Stadium for Gold Coast SUNS captain Gary Ablett with the dual Brownlow Medallist managing only 14 games before having his season ended prematurely with his left shoulder requiring surgery following an incident in round 16.
After playing just six games in 2015, Ablett made a successful return in the round one win over Essendon, He led his side to a 61-point win with a dominant 34-disposal performance that included nine clearances, seven tackles, seven inside 50s and a masterful second-quarter goal after the Little Master sidestepped Bombers skipper Brendon Goddard and let sail from beyond the paint.
The team enjoyed a maiden win in Perth the following week over Fremantle with Ablett collecting just 23 disposals, well below his usual lofty standards. But he returned to near his best the following week against Carlton with 35 touches, eight tackles and nine clearances in another big win.
Over the next few weeks, the 32-year-old was consistent without being game-breaking before a season-defining performance against Hawthorn in round 14.
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Ablett put on a masterclass in Tasmania, compiling his first 40-disposal game in two years that included an incredible 25 contested possessions to show he was back to his scintillating ball-winning best.
Unfortunately two weeks later, the skipper’s season was over, injuring his shoulder in a tackle-gone-wrong on Brisbane’s Mitch Robinson.
The eight-time All Australian led the club in contested possessions and clearances, also averaging 27-disposals per game in 2016. That’s elite by most standards but below the unbelievable levels Ablett has set for himself since a breakout year at Geelong in 2007.
With 288 AFL games to his name, one of the game’s champions should pass the magical 300-game milestone in 2017 as he looks set to be ready for day one of the pre-season in November.
“He took his time to get into it to the Gary Ablett standard. He was still playing some pretty good footy, but the standard that we expect of Gary was a little bit off that, not far off it, just a little bit off it,” assistant coach Matthew Primus told goldcoastfc.com.au.
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“But he was really starting to build towards getting back to being one of the best, if not the best midfielder in the comp, before he got injured.
“It has been a frustrating couple of years. He hasn’t really had to deal with injuries too much throughout his career. Obviously had the shoulder fixed up, touch wood that’s going to remain pretty strong for the coming years because he looks after himself so well. He’s such a professional off-the-field that he’s still got quite a few years left of playing at a really high level.
“Whether that’s through the midfield, a bit more up forward to take the load off him also. While we need him on-ball, we’ve actually got to take the load off him because he’ll continue to get bashed and crashed and all that kind of stuff on-ball it starts to take its toll after 10-15 years as Gary’s been doing it for.”
