Nathan Ablett Retires

[Psyber]

Dad played with depression and took to drugs, according to the recent book. There was a snippet on radio that suggested Nathan had said the pressure had tipped him towards turning to drugs.

There are two known genes linked to depression - one affecting 8% of the population prediposing to depression and obsessive compulsive disorder on chromosome 6 and one less frequent linked to Bipolar Disorder on chromosome 11.

At present there are two labs in the US that can do the genetic analysis - last I heard $US 10,000 a pop - but should Geelong spend the dough?

Both conditions are treatable with appropriate non-addictive medications.

[Booney]

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My brother,he retired!

[Rik E Boy]

A young fella by the name of Hawkins will be straight in the side - I actually rekon that makes the cats stronger IMO !!!

Hawkins will benifit from this now. As you said, hes probably straight in. In some instances I thought N.ABblet was lucky to be in the side at times.

No doubt, he found some form late in the season but for a while there he was only getting a game because of his name.

Disagree entirely. What foward should have taken Nathan Ablett's place towards the end of last season? Tom Hawkins couldn't run out a game last year and was not ready. Ablett kicked 30 goals last season so not a bad return as a secondary foward. I reckon if his name was Nathan Bloggs there wouldn't actually be any comments about the form of a bloke who had only played 12 matches at the start of 2007.

A couple of things...

1. The only media outlet that has said that Nathan has retired is the one quoted in this thread. None of the other vultures are on this one. He hasn't actually retired, he just needs some time to sort some shit out.
2. Hardly a shock. This young man has appeared to be a reluctant footballer right from the start.
3. The club must be spewing he didn't do this a few weeks earlier. Todd Grima would have remained at the club. I think the fact he didn't until the 'list was finalised' is actually quite telling, yes, I think he'll suit up next year. Problem is, after this, do we want him if he doesn't really want to be there?
4. Hawkins will need a much bigger tank if he is to play as many matches as Nate did last season. Hawkins covers nowhere near as much ground as the often maligned Ablett. Geelong often had a marking foward 'do a Tredrea' and come up the wing to present a powerful marking option. Sometimes it was Moons, sometimes it was Nate. When Hawkins played we did not see this and Geelong would revert to the 2006 type 'hit and hope' foward 50 entry. Ablett is more valuable than many Cats fans might be prepared to let on.
5. The player who might surprise is not Tom Hawkins but Tom Lonergan. This guy has got guts to burn as he has shown with recovery to play football again. He showed his ticker and ability in the Magoos granny with a six goal bag. It was that performance that spelled curtains for Henry.

Hunger is the key in Geelong's premiership defence and it appears that Nathan Ablett doesn't have it which is a real shame because I believe the kid could be anything. But if he doesn't want to wear the hoops next year I'm pretty sure guys like Blake, Egan, Lonergan, Prismall, Tenac and Hawkins do.

Make your mind up son.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

3540232350.jpg

My brother,he retired!

Mercifully we were spared the boonkini!

regards,

REB

[fester69]

Yes I agree, Nathan does more work than he is credited for, usually as an upfield decoy or leading the defenders out for Moons to compete 1 on 1. Considering how hard it was for us to get him in the first place, a little disappointing but let's hope it can all be worked out for his and our benefit.

Not going to leave a big hole cos more then adequate replacements can be found at The Cattery. Hope it doesn't have an adverse effect on young Gary, don't think it will.

[Dogwatcher]

N Ablett seems like a very private person, he has never looked totally comfortable with the attention that comes with playing at AFL level and being the Son of G Ablett snr....

Then don't play footy and open yourself up to those comparisons....make your mind up.

[Andy #24]

If he doesn't want to play football good on him for being courageous enough to give it up. Fair chance he feels pressure to continue and that people will think he is soft for retiring.

[locky801]

Perhaps feeling alot of pressure with Gary Jnr being so dynamic and Gary snr about to have his book released. No doubt Nathan has the talent, I say good on him for having the balls to stand up and say, sorry people, this just aint for me at the moment

[Wedgie]

N Ablett seems like a very private person, he has never looked totally comfortable with the attention that comes with playing at AFL level and being the Son of G Ablett snr....

Then don't play footy and open yourself up to those comparisons....make your mind up.

Why?

If I loved playing footy I wouldn't care what my Dad had done.
Doing the same thing as your Dad did just because you love it and you're good at it shouldn't be a matter of making your mind up or not.

If he kept playing just for the money and not enjoying it in the slightest (like many other players of many sports have done in the past) that would be a sin.

He gave something a shot and good on the lad for that, he could have easily just have stayed in the country and spent the rest of his life wondering.

[am Bays]

N Ablett seems like a very private person, he has never looked totally comfortable with the attention that comes with playing at AFL level and being the Son of G Ablett snr....

Then don't play footy and open yourself up to those comparisons....make your mind up.

Why should submitting yourself to media scruitiny be a pre-requisite to being a professional sportsperson???

If a sportsperson openly courts the media to promote himself we ll I can understand it but in Nathan Abletts case he has deliberately avoided the media or at least tried not to promote himself. Shouldn't matter who his father is or his families emotional ties to the city of Geelong when it comes to Nathan Ablett just wanting to have a kick and a catch at the highest level his footballing ability allows him to play at.

[mighty_tiger_79]

REB, the only bloke who could have taken abletts spot late in the season was either gradiner or playfair who were kicking goals in the VFL, just cant remember which one

[Andy #24]

Why should submitting yourself to media scruitiny be a pre-requisite to being a professional sportsperson???

Absolutely correct IMO Tassie, but what is a pre requisite for a professional sportsman? Subjecting yourself to elicit drug testing that no-one else is compelled to do? Being scrutinised for improper behaviour which is irrelevant to your performance?

[Rik E Boy]

REB, the only bloke who could have taken abletts spot late in the season was either gradiner or playfair who were kicking goals in the VFL, just cant remember which one

I rest my case.

regards,

REB

[Macca19]

I dont think its that big a shock. He only wanted to play park footy with his mates and Geelong spent a lot of time trying to convince him to give it a crack. Hes never struck me as someone that would be a 12 year 200 game player.

As for his reasons for having a break/possible retiring....people leave their work because they dont enjoy it all the time. This is no different. If hes not handling the pressure and the scrutiny then he should get out.

[Psyber]

Why should submitting yourself to media scruitiny be a pre-requisite to being a professional sportsperson???

Absolutely correct IMO Tassie, but what is a pre requisite for a professional sportsman? Subjecting yourself to elicit drug testing that no-one else is compelled to do? Being scrutinised for improper behaviour which is irrelevant to your performance?

Whether or not it should be a prerequisite, everyone knows that if you begin a career in any field that is highly recognised publicly you are going to be scrtutinised closely by the media and the professional standards organisations, so you can't go into the field and then whinge about it. However, it appears Ablett may have been talked into it by people who cared more about using his skills than about his personal well-being, and they are still keen to talk him into continuing. Ablett should be given time to make the choice best for him.

But nobody who goes into any form of career in an area of high public exposure, which is where the big money they are offered comes from, can complain about being public property to some extent or about being stuck with having to be a "role model" - it comes with the adulation and the big pay cheque. In AFL you are paid for that whole package - not just to play football. You simply can't have it both ways.

Perhaps that should be clearly stated in discussion and in the contracts before the kids sign up.

[Strawb]

N ablett is like his dad shy and not trusting the media. I fell if the Media spotlight wasn't on his father as big as it was Nathan might be different. Nathan can be a gun I feel he needs to sit down with Gary Sr. and have a heart to heart because Gary Sr. is the key to Nathan.

[Hazbeen]

N ablett is like his dad shy and not trusting the media. I fell if the Media spotlight wasn't on his father as big as it was Nathan might be different. Nathan can be a gun I feel he needs to sit down with Gary Sr. and have a heart to heart because Gary Sr. is the key to Nathan.

I totally agree, Nathan has gone boo hoo everyone is saying bad things about my daddy, I'll go hide until they stop.

He needs to either grow up, get over it and take his money to get 3 kicks a game and ride around on his brothers coat tails or go sook back to whichever Saturday arvo beer and pies league he came from without making a big deal out of it.

[Wedgie]

N ablett is like his dad shy and not trusting the media. I fell if the Media spotlight wasn't on his father as big as it was Nathan might be different. Nathan can be a gun I feel he needs to sit down with Gary Sr. and have a heart to heart because Gary Sr. is the key to Nathan.

I totally agree, Nathan has gone boo hoo everyone is saying bad things about my daddy, I'll go hide until they stop.

He needs to either grow up, get over it and take his money to get 3 kicks a game and ride around on his brothers coat tails or go sook back to whichever Saturday arvo beer and pies league he came from without making a big deal out of it.

Could be worse, at least he wasn't as bad as the pretenders wearing turquoise, black and white on Grand Final day.
If it wasn't for Nathan it would have only been a 101 point win as opposed to a 119 point win and that doesn't have quite as good a ring to it so I'll always be grateful to Nathan.

[Rik E Boy]

He needs to either grow up, get over it and take his money to get 3 kicks a game and ride around on his brothers coat tails or go sook back to whichever Saturday arvo beer and pies league he came from without making a big deal out of it.

You mean like Captain kickless himself, Warren 'stepladder' Tredrea? Gary Ablett didn't kick the 30 plus goals Nate got last season, or the three he kicked during your utter and complete bitchdom on Grand Final Day.

regards,

REB

[rogernumber10]

he kicked during your utter and complete bitchdom

that may be the funniest thing I've ever read, without having a clue exactly what it means (though I get the hint)