Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

Suns skipper Gary Ablett steps down, can't guarantee he'll play in 2018

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-29/s ... ay-in-2018

Will he be there at seasons end? Bit of a suspicion that he's going to give it away sooner, rather than later.

GC should have moved him back to the Cats a few weeks back.

He's played 96 games for the Suns. (192 for the Cats).

He's done everything really. I thought a 3rd Brownlow and a 3rd flag was a serious chance of happening, but now it seems gone. Needs 12 games to crack 300.

Turns 33 in May.

Didn't really live up to the early promise. Ultimately will be remembered as a poor man's Dane Swan.

He wants out badly which isn't a secret. His wife wants to be close to family when they have children.
Bit of mail he and rocket don't get along famously due to Gazza's approach to not playing unless 110% and rocket wanting him out there at all times regardless. Apparently has created loads of friction between the 2
Also apparently Gazza didn't go out of his way to try to convince O'Meara or Prestia to stay rumour is he told them to follow there gut feeling and they could make more money by being in Melbourne with bigger clubs
He's as good as gone from the Suns come seasons end be it retirement or trade

Gaz was going just fine until he tried to play the hero once too often, and break McCaffer's tackle in 2014, which wasn't going to end well.
The decline of Ablett's durability and GCS fortunes, are a direct result of that one poor decision, and it just snow-balled from there...

The Suns really should have traded him back to the Cats. I wonder if they would now if they had the chance again?

Also wonder if it was only the Cats. Wonder if he would have considered another Victorian club? Imagine if he ended his days in Hawks colours? I still think clubs like Essendon and Melbourne would love to have him running around. Wonder if Collingwood would have entertained the idea?

I guess the question is, what would a fair trade have been?