It would warm the hearts of the romantics, but respected football analyst Robert Walls says Gary Ablett should avoid the temptation to return to Geelong and finish his career at the Gold Coast.
The 33-year-old is contracted to the Suns until 2018, however with Ablett asking for a trade back to Geelong at the end of last season, speculation is abound he may ask again for a move.
“I’d rather he stay at the Gold Coast. He went up there, he was given an enormous offer to go there,” Walls told SEN Breakfast.
“I would rather he just worked his way through his career, finish his career there (at Gold Coast), gave seven or eight, or nine years (service).
“He’s still the drawcard up there, he’s still one of their top three or four players, and I think it would be a good thing if he saw his career out there.
“He’s says he’s a bit homesick, he says his wife is a bit homesick, well you have to make some sacrifices if want to earn the big dollars.”
Walls foresees potential problems for the Cats trying to accommodate him, and likened it to Sam Mitchell’s move to West Coast, one he believes has made it difficult for fellow ball magnet Matt Priddis.
“Sam Mitchell is 34, went to West Coast – how do you think that’s worked? Has that made it harder for Priddis?” he asked.
“If Gary Ablett goes back to Geelong, do they have to accommodate him in a special way? Where do they play him?
“Gary might want to play in the midfield, they say no you go forward, where does (Daniel) Menzel sit?
“As romantic as it is, it can cause problems.”
He also questioned Ablett’s injury record that has seen him play just 47 out of a possible 81 games in the past four seasons.
“Geelong has been pretty good without him,” Walls said.
“The other thing that I would look at is Gary has had a few injury issues in the last couple of years, so it’s not all smooth sailing.”
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