Gary Ablett is leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit to return to the stage where he has built a resume that arguably stands above anyone who has ever played the game.
The Gold Coast SUNS captain has come under fire throughout his side’s tumultuous start to 2015, with a handful of high-profile media analysts firing bullets at the dual Brownlow medallist in the last couple of months.
Ablett has been sidelined since round two following a setback with his reconstructed shoulder, and his prolonged absence has led to widespread condemnation across the football landscape.
On Wednesday afternoon, with a smorgasbord of the Queensland AFL media in attendance, Ablett emphatically quashed any suggestion that he is not prepared to return to the game until he is close to his best.
There has been a growing cry from commentators and experts for Ablett to play even if he is still hampered. That cry has rapidly turned into a howl as the SUNS' season has spiralled from bad to worse. But the two-time premiership star has hit back at his critics, suggesting that it would selfish for him to play in his current state.
“I really want to be out there with my teammates right now. But I think it would be selfish to go out and play with the way my shoulder is at the moment,” Ablett told the media at Metricon Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
“I want to make sure that when I’m out there, I’m ready to go and I can play my role for the team and have some kind of influence on the game.
“I just want to make it clear, the shoulder’s not close to 100 per cent right. It’s not just a pain thing; there is some complications that I won’t go in to detail.
“I sit down with the doctors, catch up with them every week, we do tests on the shoulder, they give me their advice on whether I’m right to progress my training. I make decisions around that.”
VIDEO: Watch Rodney Eade and Gary Ablett's full press conference
Brisbane Lions legend Jonathon Brown put Ablett’s injury back on the agenda on Fox Footy’s On the Couch program on Monday night. The triple-premiership star suggested that Ablett had an obligation as his side’s captain to play through injury and pain, especially given the Gold Coast’s current plight.
Contrary to popular media speculation, Ablett revealed he isn’t opposed to using anti-inflammatories as a remedy. In fact, the SUNS skipper has been taking them amongst other treatments to help speed up his return to football.
In a trenchant manner, Ablett refuted any suggestion that he wasn’t doing all that he could to get back on the park. Although he made it clear that he wouldn’t be taking painkilling jabs to play. Something that anyone returning from a major reconstruction would be opposed to taking.
“We’re in an industry where people want to have their opinions on things and that’s fine. I’m open to feedback and criticism,” Ablett said.
“I guess when those things aren’t backed by fact that’s when it’s disappointing. I’ve been down to Melbourne for three hydros with my shoulder.
“I’ve done a few courses of anti inflams, I continue to take anti-inflammatories to try to get the shoulder right. So I’m doing everything I possibly can to get my shoulder right, outside of taking pain killers jabbing it up to play.”
It remains unclear if Ablett will return to his game-breaking best this season, if ever again. But one thing is for sure; his position is like a rising tide that lifts all boats in the bay. The S.S. Ablett is still the most glamorous vessel in the fleet, but it will be one that needs constant maintenance to remain in pristine condition.
