By Luke Voogt
Gary Ablett has recently relisted his Gold Coast mansion refuelling speculation the superstar midfielder could return to Geelong.
Ablett relisted the property in the Gold Coast suburb of Ashmore with former teammate and agent Danny Stanley, following season-long speculation he will return.
Revelations the house was for sale came as Gold Coast Suns chief executive officer Mark Evans batted away questions about Ablett, who will miss this weekend’s game due a hamstring injury.
“(Round 23) is not his last game, because he is contracted for 2018, so let’s hope he keeps playing,” Evans told the media on Wednesday.
“He’s contracted for another year and that’s my first priority, not talking about farewells to player, but making sure they want to be here the following year.”
When a reporter persisted in questioning Evans on Ablett’s future, the Suns CEO slapped him playfully with a brochure and told him to “stop”.
But Stanley, who played alongside Gold Coast Suns Ablett for seven years, said reports the midfielder had “just” listed the house were wrong.
“It’s been listed with us exclusively since 2 June,” said the former teammate, who started his career at Ocean Grove Football Club.
Like Evans, Stanley declined to comment on the future of his former teammate and friend.
“He hasn’t told me and I haven’t asked,” he said.
Stanley pointed out that Ablett had already listed the Bellara Street property with another agent in January.
“It was well documented it was selling earlier in the year,” he said.
Ablett put the property up for sale when the Suns refused to trade him back to Geelong.
Ablett bought the home for $1.8 million in 2011 soon after joining the Gold Coast Football Club as captain on a $1 million a season salary.
Injuries have plagued the two-time premiership player during his tenure at the Suns, who recently sacked coach Rodney Eade.
The former coach told SEN on Thursday that he was unsure whether the private 33-year-old would ask for a trade again.
“He’s still playing good footy, albeit he’s missed a few games,” Eade said.
Former Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons predicted that Ablett would return to Geelong based on information from “Gold Coast insiders”.
“Yes, I believe he is returning to Geelong, my source has said,” he told the Indy on Thursday.
He declined to reveal his source but said he had also known about Patrick Dangerfield coming to Geelong.
Lyons added his voice to that of TV personalities such as former Footy Show host Craig Hutchison who predicted Gary Ablett would be at Geelong in 2018.
Former Geelong great Barry Stoneham said the club and supporters would “love to have Gary back in blue and white”.
“I think everyone’s just waiting to see what happens either way.”
