Gary Ablett’s manager, Liam Pickering, has sensationally claimed that Bomber Thompson cost his client not only a second Brownlow medal, but also “every other media award as well”.
According to Pickering, Thompson “deliberately” moving Ablett into the forward line cost him possessions, and thus votes in these personal awards.
These moves into the forward line had nothing to do with winning games, or plugging a hole in a forward line, or making rebounding defenders more accountable.
No, no, no.
It was all an elaborate ploy to keep Ablett away from the ball. And if we are to believe Pickering’s ridiculous contention; this was done with the sole aim of reducing Ablett’s votes in media and umpires awards.
Does Ablett really believe this astounding claim?
If not, why is his manager making them on his behalf. His dash for cash is already causing enough of an image problem for him. This is not helping.
And as an aside, wouldn’t a sensible Player Manager be laying low in the wake of the Ricky Nixon debacle? Perhaps Pickering saw a media void that he could fill?
If Ablett is on side with his manager’s claims, then what on Earth is moving to the Gold Coast going to do?
The move north will solve the terrible problem of players like Selwood, Bartel, Corey, Enright, Kelly, Johnson and Varcoe taking valuable possessions from him.
I guess he has considered that he will have to and get the ball himself. The likes of Swallow, Prestia, Magin and Bennell are going to struggle to win the ball and won’t be able to hold off and block the tacklers.
And, I can’t see McKenna parking him in a forward pocket to either break a tag or give him a breather.
But he must have weighed all that up in his mind before he signed on the dotted line.
Remember he has come out and said that he wasn’t enjoying himself at Geelong. Gee, winning, winning premierships, winning, playing in grand finals, winning, Brownlows, winning, playing finals and winning must have really taken its toll on the poor fella after a while.
My theory? He has earmarked the Gold Coast Best and Fairest as the award he really wants to add to his vast collection.
Perhaps if he wins enough of them, the club will see fit to name it the Gary Ablett Medal.
Tags: afl, bomber thompson, gary ablett, geelong football club, gold coast suns, liam pickering, ricky nixon
