Recently voted the codes best player in a recent national fan survey, Gary Ablett has been making the seemingly impossible, look easy since 2002.

As the Gold Coast SUNS Captain gets set to celebrate his 250^th Career game, we thought it appropriate to take a look at his amazing career time.  

2001    Taken with the 40^th pick in the 2001 AFL National Draft by Geelong under the father-son rule.

2002    Ablett notches up twelve AFL appearances in his debut season, making his AFL Premiership debut against Essendon in front of 42,746 fans at the MCG. 

            Ablett also instrumental in the Cat’s VFL team winning the  2002 VFL Premiership against Port Melbourne, playing as a small forward. 

2003    Ablett quickly established his position in the Cats senior side in 2003, alternating as a small forward and midfielder, Ablett kicked 26 goals and featured in all 22 Premiership matches. 

            He finished the year ranked first at the club for tackles (77), inside-50s (89) and runner-up for hard-ball efforts (65).

2004    Rapidly establishing himself as an elite midfielder, Ablett and his Geelong achieved a 15-7 win-loss record in 2013, a result which saw the Cats qualify for their first finals series in four years. 

            Geelong progressed through to the preliminary finals, before going down to Brisbane.

            Ablett finished the season with a career-high 35 goals, and once again finished the year with the most tackles (93), and was awarded the Best Team and Most Constructive Player Award at    season’s end.  A wispy haired Ablett  also celebrated his 50^th AFL appearance in Round 17, against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

2005    Ablett continued to impress as the Cats qualify for consecutive finals series finishing third-place in the club’s Best and Fairest award.

2006    Pre-Season NAB Cup: Ablett’s Geelong Cats were off to a flying start in 2006, winning their first pre-season premiership since 1961.

            Round 12 June, 17: Ablett kicked a career-high six goals against Fremantle in front of 34,236 fans at Subiaco Oval. 

            Round 22 September 3: Ablett celebrates his 100^th AFL match against Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium. 

            Ablett finished the season with 35 goals to win the club’s leading goal-kicker award, and placed third for the Carji Greeves Medal as the club’s Best and Fairest player. 

2007     2005 would prove to be a break out season for Ablett with a permanent shift to the midfield reaping immediate rewards for the Cats. 

            Gary played in all 25 AFL matches and led his team to the 2007 AFL Grand Final, where they defeated Port Adelaide by a record 119 points – winning their first Premiership since 1963. 

            Ablett received All-Australian honours for the first time in his career and finished equal sixth in the Brownlow Medal count with 20 votes, while also being awarded his first AFLPA MVP awards to go with his first Carji Greezes Medal as the club’s Best and Fairest.

2008    Ablett was instrumental as the Cats achieve an incredible regular season record of 21 wins 1 loss and was selected to play for the Victorian State team in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Mate (later ruled himself out with a groin injury).

            Ablett was apart of consecutive AFL Grand Finals, however this time suffered defeat against Hawthorn in front of over 100,000 spectators at the MCG. Ablett finished the match with a game-high 34 disposals, five tackles, eight inside-50s and kicked two goals. For the second consecutive year Gary achieved All-Australian honours and was awarded the AFLPA MVP Award.

2009    Ablett is inducted into the Geelong Football Hall of Fame prior to the 2009 Premiership Season, steering Geelong two their second NAB Cup title in four years, collecting the Michael Ruck Medal for his 35-disposal performance. 

            Round 4 September 27: Ablett notches his 150^th AFL Premiership appearance against Adelaide at the MCG – earning Life Membership with Geelong. Ablett would go on to equal Nathan Buckley’s record 46 disposals, while setting a new record for most handpasses in a game with 33. 

            Largely off the back off the little champion, the Cats contested a third consecutive AFL Grand Final, defeated St. Kilda by 12-points in a thriller at the MCG. 

            Ablett is awarded the 2009 Brownlow Medal, AFLPA MVP, the AFL Coaches’ Association Award and co-awarded his second Carji Greeves Medal alongside Corey Enright. 

2010    Ablett continued his elite performances into 2010, averaging 32 disposals in 24 appearances.  

            Receives All-Australian honours for the third time. 

            September 29: After months of speculation, the SUNS reveal they have secured the prized signature of the 2009 Brownlow Medallist and dual premiership player with Gary agreeing to a five year deal.

2011    January 19: The SUNS announce their leadership group ahead of their debut season with Gary Ablett as expected announced as captain.   

            Round 2 April 2: Ablett leads the Gold Coast SUNS out to their first AFL match in club history against Carlton at the Gabba.

            After averaging 30 disposals in his first season with the Gold Coast, Ablett is awarded the inaugural Gold Coast SUNS Club Champion Award and received All-Australian honours for the fifth time. 

2012    Round 10: Ablett records a career-high 53 disposals against Collingwood at the MCG.

            Ablett is awarded the AFL MVP for a fourth time, earns All-Australian honours, is the club’s leading goal-kicker winning back-to-back Gold Coast SUNS Club Champion honours.

2013    Round 1: Ablett finishes game-high 34 possessions and four goals, inspiring his charges to a final term revival to secure the early premiership points over St. Kilda at Metricon Stadium.

            Round 7: Ablett finished with a game-high 38 disposals and helps his side record their biggest winning margin since their introduction to the national competition, the SUNS running away as 60-point victors over Melbourne, the Club’s first premiership win at the MCG. 

            Round 8: Ablett finished with a equal game-high 31 disposals lifting the SUNS to their first successive victories in club history with a convincing 32-point victory over the Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium.

            Round 17: Ablett was at his prolific and inspirational best against Collingwood at Metricon Stadium, going on to finish with a career second-best 49 disposals, ten clearances, six inside-50s and two goals as the SUNS went on to claim their most prized scalp in the club’s short history.                

            Round 20: The Gary Ablett story continues with the little master set to play his 250^th Career game against the Melbourne Demons at Metricon Stadium.