They should have mentioned that in his first season with the Cats, Ted Whiitwn saw him play and put him in the Victorian team that year where he kicked 8 goals from a half foward flank. Amazing!
EJ saw him play every week because he was the lead commentator for 3GL (K-ROCK) and he demanded Ablett be played (Allan Jeans - his old coach at Hawthorn - was the Victorian Coach and didn’t want him in the team). He dominated that game with 8 goals as you said (although the Vics lost)
Gary was just simply amazing, as a 54yo lifelong Blue, I'm blessed to have been permitted to witness his extraordinary greatness and simple personal humility. Be blessed always Gary, you gave so very much more to footy than it ever gave back to you.✝
The most noticeable thing about Ablett Snr appart from the marks was how far he could kick a football, you don't see many if any these days kicking goals from half way
1982 six game cameo with Hawthorn for 10 goals 1984-1996 242 games 1021 goals Coleman Medallist 1993 (124) 1994 (129) 1995 (122) He has the highest goals per game average for a non-specialist forward with 3.6 goals per game as he kicked 586 goals in 161 games as a half forward flanker and winger before moving to full forward the last four years of his career kicking 444 goals in 81 games averaging 5.5 goals per game. 185cm 97kg of toughness, prowess, power and skill. Kicked nine goals in a losing grand final side. He still kicked 69 goals in his final season and he averaged over four goals per game in 13 seasons with the Cats. He walked away winless in four grand finals (1989, 1992, 1994, 1995)
@stuartcallaghan3285 I went many times to see Geelong train and Ablett Snr had a very casual approach about training. He got into it more seriously towards the end of career. But his body especially knee was cooked. Garry Hocking was terrific. The last to leave the track and fans could join in and have a kick with him.
That is true albeit… he would’ve been put at the half forward flank or wing maybe forward pocket as Dunstall and Brereton were the gun forwards at the time.
Wow left foot right foot flat out....nearly hit the roof a couple of times always through the middle. If I was there that night I would have dropped my pie🎉
