Ablett future on hold season first, decision later

Andrew Mathieson
ONGOING speculation over Gary Ablett’s future has forced negotiations to stall with Geelong Cats’ bosses.
Ablett’s manager Liam Pickering told Fox Sports earlier this week that talks on a new contact beyond 2010 would stay on hold until the end of the season.
Gold Coast officials have been targeting Ablett since last year, fuelling belief the reigning Brownlow Medallist will accept a more-lucrative offer to join brother Nathan at the new AFL club.
Ablett’s lure is so great that a Gold Coast newspaper attempted earlier this year to use his image on behalf of the club’s membership campaign.
Pickering advised the Cats on Monday that Ablett was yet to announce his intentions after he had earlier indicated a decision would be made by mid-year.
“We’re going to put negotiations on hold until the end of the season to try to take the heat out of the whole situation,” Pickering said.
“I mean, he’s getting continually asked, after speaking to Gary and Brian Cook (on Monday), it’s probably the best course of action, we feel.”
Cats chief executive Brian Cook said on Saturday the club had made its best offer last year and had no further room to move under the salary cap.
Pickering believed that delaying the decision up to four months – assuming Geelong played the entire final series – would halt rumours and allow Ablett and the Cats to concentrate on their 2010 campaign.
“It’s got to the stage now after another weekend of speculation, as it’s always going to be with Gary, we understand that, we just thought it was the best thing to do,” he said.
Coach Mark Thompson was accused of heightening tensions when he suggested Ablett should give the Cats a prompt answer earlier this year.
The Geelong coach responded with a media ban on himself last week, saying he would no longer speculate on his champion’s future.
The conjecture over Ablett has had little impact on his side’s form that has sent the Cats back to top of the AFL ladder.
Geelong, which has won 73 of its past 85 matches, also broke another record last weekend.
A four-quarter effort in a comfortable 54-point victory over Melbourne ensured the Cats were the first AFL club to win 20 consecutive quarters.
The streak began back in round six against Richmond and has continued in the Cats’ wins over Sydney, Brisbane, Collingwood and Melbourne.
The Cats are expected to start hot favourites against a struggling West Coast in Perth on Saturday night.