Gary Ablett

For the English football (soccer) player, see Gary Ablett.

Gary Ablett, Sr. (born October 1, 1961) is a retired Australian Rules Football player. He is generally considered to be one of the game's greatest players, holding an often legendary status amongst spectators and commentators alike.

Ablett grew up in the town of Drouin in Victoria's Gippsland region. His father was a champion horse trainer and his mother was a talented track and field athlete. He was one of eight children, with two of his four brothers playing professional football and all of his siblings succeeding in their chosen sports. One of his sisters is married to former Hawthorn star Michael Tuck.

Ablett dropped out of high school at the age of 15 and became a brickie's labourer. During his teenage years, he was charged with criminal offences such as assault and drug possession, and came close to imprisonment on more than one occasion.

In 1982, Ablett was recruited by the Hawthorn Football Club as a wingman, in what was then the Victorian Football League. His first season was unsuccessful, he played only six games and kicked nine goals. At season's end, he returned to his uncle's home town of Myrtleford, and played out the 1983 season there.

At that time, his football career seemed over. Then, in 1984, he was picked up by Geelong, where he moved to the forward line. In the 1984 season, he turned his career around, playing 15 games and kicking 33 goals. He was awarded "Best and Fairest" (the highest club-based award in Australian Rules Football) at Geelong that same year.

For the next twelve seasons, Ablett was one of the stars of what soon became the Australian Football League. He played in four grand final teams - 1989, 1992, 1994 and 1995, although Geelong lost each time. In 1989, he kicked nine goals and was awarded the Norm Smith Medal, for best player afield in the Grand Final - a match widely regarded as one of the best ever played. In receiving the Norm Smith Medal, he became one of only three players (the others being Maurice Rioli and Nathan Buckley) to win the medal playing for the losing side.

In 1986, Ablett became a born-again Christian and has been said to be slightly aggrieved at constantly being referred to as "God" by fans, a nickname based on his virtually limitless abilities, conjuring goals in the most unlikely circumstances.

Ablett announced his retirement from football due to personal reasons prior to the 1991 season, but then made a comeback halfway through that year.

Ablett won three consecutive Coleman Medals, for the most goals kicked in a season, in 1993, 1994 and 1995. In those three seasons, he broke the 100-goal barrier each time - a rare feat in Australian Rules. He represented Victoria in State of Origin games 11 times, being the side's captain in 1995. He made the All-Australian team 7 times, in 1984, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995, as well as being selected in both the AFL and Geelong Teams of the Century. In total, Ablett played 242 games, and kicked 1021 goals.

At the end of the 1997 season, Ablett announced he would be retiring. He had never been able to deal with the media well, and this may be why, unlike many renowned footballers, Ablett did not become involved in sports broadcasting after his retirement. He became involved in controversy, when a young woman, Alicia Horan, died of a drug overdose while in Ablett's hotel room. Some have suggested that it is was Ablett's inability to adjust to life after football that lead to his involvement with drugs. Whilst Ablett faced no charges over the incident, the initial coroner's inquest did suggest that his negligience had played a role in her death, and much of the media coverage was scathing of Ablett.

It's generally believed that this incident in particular, is responsible for the AFL Hall of Fame Committee's refusal to admit Ablett. In 2004, after several years of being overlooked, Ablett asked the Geelong Football Club to no longer nominate him, a request that was granted. However on 2 June 2005, against all expectations, it was announced that Ablett would be inducted into the Hall of Fame the following week. [1] (http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200506/s1382637.htm)

Ablett's eldest son, Gary Ablett Jr. has followed in his footsteps and now plays for Geelong, as one of the clubs most exciting and popular players. Another son, Nathan, was drafted by Geelong at the end of 2004, after initially refusing to play AFL Football because of his father's experience.

See also: List of Born-again Christian Laypeople

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