Nathan Ablett
Encyclopedia
Nathan Ablett is an Australian rules football
er who played for Gold Coast
and Geelong
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). A key forward, 1.94 metres (6.4 ft) tall and weighing 96 kilograms (211.6 lb), Nathan is the youngest son of Gary Ablett Sr and the younger brother of Gary Ablett Jr
.
Although a standout junior footballer, Ablett chose not to play in the TAC Cup
to avoid the media attention which accompanied the preceding careers of his father and brother. After spending a year playing in country leagues, Ablett agreed to sign for Geelong (his former club) under the league's father-son rule
and was selected with the 49th overall pick in the 2004 AFL Draft
. Ablett made his AFL debut in 2005, and was part of the Premiership side in 2007. However, he announced his retirement from professional football at the conclusion of the 2007 season, citing a lack in desire to continue playing at the top level.
. He eventually decided to pursue a career in AFL football, though wary of the pressures placed on him as the son of a former league superstar and brother of a rising talent. Regarded as a shy personality both on and off the field, Ablett rarely participated in media interviews.
after beginning his professional football career with the Geelong reserves team in the VFL
. Nathan showed improvement as a player at the end of the 2006 season in the VFL team which contested the Grand Final. By 2007, Ablett cemented his position in the senior squad at full forward, and helped the Cats capture the 2007 AFL Premiership
, booting three goals in the record breaking Grand Final win.
team in 2003, but was eventually convinced to return to top level competition.
Having been given until the start of 2008 to make a decision, Ablett decided on 7 January 2008 to walk away from AFL for at least one year, but didn't rule out a possible return at some stage.
In May 2008, media outlets reported Geelong coach Mark Thompson as saying "I've spoken to him (Nathan Ablett) a few times and it's probably a bit late for this year, for him to play AFL, but that's not the real point, the point is he's missing footy and he is thinking about a return." Nathan re-commenced training with Geelong on 9 July 2008. Although he was expected to play in Geelong's VFL side in the later part of the 2008 season, an ankle injury, sustained from playing basketball, sidelined him for the remainder of the year. It was announced on 2 September 2008 that Nathan would not be pursuing an AFL career in 2009, instead choosing to become a plumber
.
However, he surprised many when he subsequently signed with the Broadbeach Cats to play in the AFL Queensland State League.
Ablett returned to AFL football in 2011, playing for the Gold Coast Suns. His Suns debut came in Round 22 against Adelaide, 3 years and 325 days since his previous AFL appearance.
On 5 September 2011, Gold Coast announced they had delisted Ablett from their playing list. He had played only two games for the Suns and kicked one goal.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Gold Coast
Gold Coast Suns
The Gold Coast Suns were one of the eight original franchises that began play in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The club split their home games between Miami and Pompano Beach, FL and hired future Hall of Famer Earl Weaver as manager. In the league's inaugural season, the...
and Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). A key forward, 1.94 metres (6.4 ft) tall and weighing 96 kilograms (211.6 lb), Nathan is the youngest son of Gary Ablett Sr and the younger brother of Gary Ablett Jr
Gary Ablett, Jr.
Gary Ablett, Jr. is a professional Australian rules football player and current captain of the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
.
Although a standout junior footballer, Ablett chose not to play in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
to avoid the media attention which accompanied the preceding careers of his father and brother. After spending a year playing in country leagues, Ablett agreed to sign for Geelong (his former club) under the league's father-son rule
Father-son rule
The father-son rule is a rule that allows clubs to select the sons of players who have made a major past contribution to the team in Australian rules football, most notably the Australian Football League...
and was selected with the 49th overall pick in the 2004 AFL Draft
2004 AFL Draft
The 2004 AFL Draft, concerning player acquisitions in the 2004/05 Australian Football League off-season, consisted of a trade period, a national draft, a pre-season draft, and the elevation of rookies...
. Ablett made his AFL debut in 2005, and was part of the Premiership side in 2007. However, he announced his retirement from professional football at the conclusion of the 2007 season, citing a lack in desire to continue playing at the top level.
Early life
Though a gifted footballer, Ablett avoided media attention surrounding his junior career by choosing not to play in the TAC CupTAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
. He eventually decided to pursue a career in AFL football, though wary of the pressures placed on him as the son of a former league superstar and brother of a rising talent. Regarded as a shy personality both on and off the field, Ablett rarely participated in media interviews.
AFL career
Ablett debuted midway through the 2005 AFL season2005 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
after beginning his professional football career with the Geelong reserves team in the VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
. Nathan showed improvement as a player at the end of the 2006 season in the VFL team which contested the Grand Final. By 2007, Ablett cemented his position in the senior squad at full forward, and helped the Cats capture the 2007 AFL Premiership
2007 AFL Grand Final
The 2007 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 2007. It was the 111th annual Grand Final of the VFL/AFL, staged to determine the...
, booting three goals in the record breaking Grand Final win.
Retirement
On 30 November 2007, Ablett announced he was considering retirement from the game at the age of only 21, citing a lack of continuing passion for the game. This was not without precedent, as Ablett walked away from his TAC CupTAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
team in 2003, but was eventually convinced to return to top level competition.
Having been given until the start of 2008 to make a decision, Ablett decided on 7 January 2008 to walk away from AFL for at least one year, but didn't rule out a possible return at some stage.
In May 2008, media outlets reported Geelong coach Mark Thompson as saying "I've spoken to him (Nathan Ablett) a few times and it's probably a bit late for this year, for him to play AFL, but that's not the real point, the point is he's missing footy and he is thinking about a return." Nathan re-commenced training with Geelong on 9 July 2008. Although he was expected to play in Geelong's VFL side in the later part of the 2008 season, an ankle injury, sustained from playing basketball, sidelined him for the remainder of the year. It was announced on 2 September 2008 that Nathan would not be pursuing an AFL career in 2009, instead choosing to become a plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
.
However, he surprised many when he subsequently signed with the Broadbeach Cats to play in the AFL Queensland State League.
Ablett returned to AFL football in 2011, playing for the Gold Coast Suns. His Suns debut came in Round 22 against Adelaide, 3 years and 325 days since his previous AFL appearance.
On 5 September 2011, Gold Coast announced they had delisted Ablett from their playing list. He had played only two games for the Suns and kicked one goal.
Statistics
- Statistics are correct to end of AFL career. Averages are in brackets.
| Season | Team | # | Games | Disposals | Kicks Kick (football) Kicking is a method used by many types of football, including:* Association football* Australian rules football* International rules football* American football* Canadian football* Gaelic football* Rugby league* Rugby union... |
Handballs Handball (Australian rules football) Handball is a term in the sport of Australian rules football which describes a method of disposing of possession of the football by hand. It is the most frequently used alternative to kicking the ball... |
Marks Mark (Australian football) A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground.... |
Tackles Tackle (football move) Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend.... |
Goals | Behinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2005.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:... |
Geelong | 23 | (6.8) | (4.8) | (2.0) | 13 (3.2) | (1.2) | (2.0) | (0.5) | |
| 2006 2006 AFL season Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2006.-National Cup: 3.10.5 defeated 1.10.15 in the 2006 NAB Cup Final... |
Geelong | 23 | (8.0) | (4.7) | (3.3) | 27 (3.9) | (0.7) | (0.6) | (0.4) | |
| 2007 2007 AFL season The 2007 AFL Season was the 111th season of the Australian Football League, the highest-level professional Australian rules football league in Australia... |
Geelong | 23 | 21 | 191 (9.1) | 117 (5.6) | 74 (3.5) | 86 (4.1) | 28 (1.3) | 34 (1.6) | 18 (0.9) |
| 2008 2008 AFL season -Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6 :-Round 7:-AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match:-Round 8:... |
Geelong | 23 | ||||||||
| 2011 2011 AFL season The 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams... |
Gold Coast | 55 | (11.0) | (4.5) | (6.5) | (2.5) | (1.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | |
| Career totals | 34 | 296 (8.7) | 178 (5.2) | 118 (3.5) | 131 (3.9) | 41 (1.2) | 47 (1.4) | 24 (0.7) | ||