If there was one player that many older fans would argue is better than Gary Ablett Jr, his father Gary Ablett Sr, is one of the first names to be brought up. This was the man given the nickname of ‘God’ by Geelong fans for his mercurial abilities.
Ablett Sr made his VFL debut for Hawthorn against Geelong in 1982, at the club where his brothers, Geoff and Kevin, had played in the 1970s. After falling out with the Hawks coach Allan Jeans, Ablett moved back to Geelong to play under Richmond legend Tom Hafey.
In his first season at Geelong, Ablett played on the wing and won Geelong’s best and fairest award. In subsequent seasons, he would eventually move forward, having season tallies of over 80 goals in 1988 and 1989. Ablett would then suffer through injuries and personal issues, only playing 17 games in 1990, but still managed to kick 75 goals.
In 1991, Ablett shocked the world by retiring from football, claiming that at the age of 29 years old, he had lost his love for the game. However, he then reversed his decision, returning to football and Geelong halfway through the season. It was after his brief retirement and return that Ablett was finally placed at full forward.
In 1993, he broke the 100-goals per season milestone, kicking 124 goals over 17 games, as Geelong finished just outside of finals contention in seventh place. The following season, Ablett kicked 129 goals as the Cats made it to the Grand Final, losing to the West Coast Eagles. The following year, he kicked 122 goals, leading the Cats to the Grand Final again only to fall short losing to Carlton.
The mercurial one’s form fell off the following year, kicking only 69 goals in 17 games after he was suspended for striking during a game against St Kilda, which forced him to miss five games. He was still supposed to play for Geelong in 1997, but after suffering a knee injury during a reserves game, Ablett would miss the entire season and announced his second and final retirement during that year’s final series.
Ablett would end his career with 1031 goals from 248 games, and was a three-time Coleman medallist and a Norm Smith medallist, winning the medal in Geelong’s losing 1989 Grand Final against the Hawks – one of the greatest Grand Final performances of all-time.
Unlike Ablett Jr, Ablett Sr never managed to win a premiership, despite making it to the Grand Final three times. He fell to Hawthorn in 89, West Coast in 94, and Carlton in 95. It was only when Ablett Sr’s sons, Gary and Nathan arrived at Geelong, that the club was able to break its 44-year premiership drought. In a touching moment, Ablett Jr gave his father his 2007 Premiership medallion, allowing the legendary full forward to taste premiership glory for the first time in his career.
The biggest issue with Ablett Sr’s place in the history books largely comes from his off-field issues, including his role in the suspicious death of Alisha Horan of a drug overdose in his hotel room. After initially denying his involvement, Ablett later admitted that he had provided Horan with the drugs that caused her death.
However, judging on his on-field performances and abilities alone, it’s hard to dismiss Ablett Sr as being one of the greatest players to ever step onto a football field.
Performances of Note
Geelong versus Hawthorn, Grand Final, 1989
It is incredibly rare for a player from the losing side to win the Norm Smith Medal, but then again, Gary Senior was an incredible rare type of player. Since the medal was first awarded in 1979, a player from the losing side has only won four times, and this includes Ablett’s win in the 1989 Grand Final. He kicked nine goals in a shoot-out against Hawks forwards Jason Dunstall and Gary Buckenara, who kicked four each. The game was rather ironic, given the fact that Ablett could have been a Hawk if he had only adjusted to life in Melbourne better.
Geelong versus Richmond, Round 9, 1989
Even in the age of big bags, kicking 14 goals was an incredible achievement. However, Ablett Sr managed to kick 14 goals and 2 behinds against Richmond in the Round Nine clash in 1989. Not only did Ablett kick half of the Cats’ goals on the day, but he also outscored the entire Richmond team by eight points. Outside of his 14 goals, Ablett also had 30 possessions for the first time in 1984, when he played as a wingman.
Geelong versus Sydney, Round 8, 1994
To kick 14 goals in a game just once is impressive, however, it’s another level entirely to kick 14 goals on three separate occasions. Ablett Sr would kick 14 goals against Richmond in 1989, Essendon in 1993, and Sydney in Round 8, 1994. Ablett would kick 14 goals and 5 behind from 21 disposals, leading the Cats to a 94-point win over the hapless Swans side.
I’m sure you have a few more standout performances to add – there were so many.
Where does the elder Ablett sit on your list of greats of the game?
