“It certainly makes a big difference, for the boys to look up at the stands and see all the flags waving and hear the crowd cheering us on definitely puts an extra spring in your step and I have certainly noticed that our fans have really stepped things up so far this season, the noise and colour has been sensational and it will certainly give us an edge against Freo this weekend.”
The Clubs planned Carnival Night celebrations unlike anything the skipper has seen during his time in the AFL.
“I think it’s great fun for the family, the kids can come down and jump on the rides, it starts at 5:30pm, we never had anything like that when I was a kid growing up and going along to games and it should be loads of fun.
“I encourage people to come along early, it’s going to be heaps of fun and there will probably be a few of the players out there to say hi as well.”
There is no doubting the Gold Coast SUNS have been an upbeat bunch this week, their record breaking win against the GWS Giants providing a much needed confidence boost as they prepare for Saturdays Round 6 clash against the Dockers, however whilst pleased with their efforts in Canberra, Ablett says the playing group know they could have been much better, and it’s that focus they have carried into each season this week.
“Obviously coming off a good win on the weekend, we take a lot of confidence out of that game and we probably could have won by a little bit more if we had kicked straight, but we have worked on a few things this week and I thought the boys trained really well in our main training session.”
The SUNS fell agonisingly short against the Dockers at Metricon Stadium in the corresponding match last year after losing Vice Captain Nathan Bock early in the match with a badly broken leg.
“It’s a great opportunity for us, Fremantle have been in great form but you know we played well against them last year and we feel we have got the game plan to beat them, we have just got to make sure we stick to our structures and play the way we want to play on the day.”
“I think they have changed their game plan and they are a much more defensive side now, I think they are number one in the AFL for tackling and their pressure acts as well which tackling, making the opposition turn the ball over and things like that and so it’s going to be a great challenge for us, we have got to make sure we do the little things well, get the basics right and in offence hit our targets and not turn the ball over.”
Harley Bennell is expected to be named in the GC SUNS midfield tonight after passing tests on an injured ham string with the Skipper saying his inclusion makes the home side a much more dangerous proposition.
"Been missing him out there a lot, just the running he gives us, but I think he will be right to go this weekend, he trained well today and I asked him after the session how he pulled up and he was fine, so it will be nice having him back out there and doing some damage for us.”
Ablett has also been super impressed with young star Jaeger O’Meara who has made the most of his chances since being injected into the senior team at the start of the season.
“He is an amazing talent, the great thing about him though is that he is probably one of the hardest trainers at the Club, works really hard and he has been like that from day one.”
“I think the important thing for people to understand is that it’s going to take time, he is a young kid and there is a lot of hype about him. Especially at the start of the season, but he’s going to have his up weeks and his down weeks but I think you will find as the years roll on that he is going to improve and play better footy and there is no doubt he is going to be a great player for this football Club.”
The GC SUNS Carnival activities get underway from 5:30pm on Saturday with the opening bounce at 7:40pm.
Click here to see some of the activities planned for the night.
