Nathan Ablett Biography

Premiership player Nathan Ablett has been delisted by Gold Coast after playing just two matches in 2011.

"In the games we saw this year it's certainly fair to say the game's sort of gobbled him up a bit," Suns coach Guy McKenna said.

"Whether he's going to get that speed back … time stands still for no-one and we have to move forward, and probably [in] another 12 months, we thought as a match committee, he wasn't going to be up to the level of speed."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says time is running out for Nathan Ablett and Joel Tippett to prove themselves this year.

"We can't invent any more games for [Ablett]," McKenna said.

"We'll assess him and Joel Tippet, who didn't play today, but will probably play next week. Are two games enough for him as well? Probably not, but we have to make that call and that judgment."

Gold Coast assistant coach Ken Hinkley, who has watched Nathan Ablett closely at Geelong and the Gold Coast, says he deserves a second shot at the AFL.

"We made some changes and had some injuries so the opportunity for him is really pleasing, one for him personally and for us as a team to give Nathan an opportunity to show us what he can do," Hinkley said.

"He is just competing really hard and we know it's not about Nathan taking lots of marks or kicking lots of goals, it's about just doing the structured things we expect."

Nathan Ablett, who will make his debut for the Suns against Adelaide in Round 22, says he owes a lot to his brother Gary.

"We're pretty close, so having that good company around is always nice wherever you are, so it's helped out massively," he said.

"He looks after me, gives me good advice. It'll give me that extra buzz to run alongside him, but just to get that shot again to play AFL will be great."

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says Nathan Ablett may make his Suns debut against Adelaide.

"Nath's been in good form in the twos and obviously getting towards the end of the season we have to have a look at him, so he'll be in the mix," McKenna said.

"He's one of the 15 boys out of contract at the end of the year and we probably have to make about seven changes. We want to make sure we give these boys enough opportunity to show their wares."

Nathan Ablett has been reunited with brother Gary after Gold Coast selected him with the first pick in the NAB AFL Pre-Season draft.

Nathan Ablett will return to Skilled Stadium as a member of the Gold Coast Suns' VFL team and Cats VFL coach Dale Amos says he will receive a warm welcome from the locals.

"The Ablett name is synonymous with Geelong and I think the (fans) are generally just happy to see him back playing again," Amos said.

"I'd be surprised if there was anything other than people pleased to see him."

Nathan Ablett's hopes of securing an AFL contract with Gold Coast in 2011 will be determined over the next five weeks but coach Guy McKenna says the forward is starting to show promising signs.

"All of a sudden over the last two weeks he's put his hand up and said, 'Right, I'm running out of opportunities here. I need to do something about this'," McKenna said.

"Wednesday week ago he trained the house down. That was the Nathan Ablett I saw play in the 2007 premiership, and he's performed well at Broadbeach since then."

Nathan Ablett struggles to have an impact in the VFL with Gold Coast and is no certainty to resurrect his AFL career with the new franchise.

"He today was fighting for a contract no different than a (19-year-old) Mitch Harley," Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said.

"He's got the rest of the year to prove to us that he should be on our list."

Nathan Ablett is on track to play in the Gold Coast's first match, a Round 1 clash against Port Melbourne in the VFL on April 10.

"We had a chat about that early days. Nathan convinced me enough. I haven't had any reason to change my thoughts that he is passionate about playing, so assuming he ticks all the boxes, we'll pick him for Round 1," Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said.

Nathan Ablett has taken the first step to reigniting his AFL career, signing with the Gold Coast to play VFL football in 2010.

"It is exciting because it is going to be such a young group and hopefully from playing three years of AFL I can give a bit of experience to the boys of what to do and what not to do," Ablett said.

"My aim is to play AFL again so hopefully I can use this as a bit of a stepping stone and play some good footy as well as getting myself fit."

Geelong premiership player Nathan Ablett wants to resume his AFL career on the Gold Coast.

"He likes living on the Gold Coast, and in our club's unique position we can offer him a vehicle back into the system," Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said.

Gary Ablett Jr speaks to his brother Nathan Ablett every day - but never about a return to the big time.

Nathan famously walked away from the Cats despite being a required player who had contributed to their 2007 AFL flag.

"There are a lot of players in the AFL who don't really enjoy themselves but they keep playing the game because they feel the pressure to stay there or they are not sure what will be there for them if they don't have football," Gary Ablett Jr said.

"There are always people saying if you have got the talent use it, but Nathan was keen to get away and I respect him for that."

Nathan Ablett has come out of his shell and accepted some informal coaching duties at new QAFL club Broadbeach.

Former Geelong forward Nathan Ablett is likely to become a development project for the Gold Coast AFL team.

Nathan Ablett is returning to football with Broadbeach on the Gold Coast next year.

Nathan Ablett's AFL career ends after he decides to pursue a career in the building industry.

Despite considering a comeback while training with Geelong's VFL side, Ablett's mind was seemingly made up after he sustained an ankle injury playing basketball.

"He'd like to learn the trade from a good builder and he'd like go right up north for that, to get away from the cold down here - I'm not talking Brisbane but well north of Brisbane," Geelong president Frank Costa said.

"He's fairly sure he doesn't want to play AFL footy at that level, he doesn't want whatever comes with it - the glamour and pressure of being in the spotlight and we've got to respect that."

Nathan Ablett returns to Geelong after taking a break from football for several months.

Ablett has been training with Geelong's VFL team and could return to AFL football, possibly in 2009.

Nathan Ablett decides to stay out of football for the 2008 AFL season but does not rule out a return in the future or playing at lower levels.

"I have decided to take a break from AFL football for the time being," Ablett said. "I feel as though I don't have the passion and the commitment to continue playing at the highest level. To do so therefore would be unfair to the club and the players."

Geelong coach Mark Thompson expressed hope that Nathan Ablett would return to the club soon.

"He hasn't made his mind up completely so we are hoping that one day he comes back, and that one day is pretty soon," Thompson said.

"He's not really like a lot of other young men who are so passionate about the game and would do almost anything to play. But in saying that he has got enormous ability and we have not given up hope that he will play for Geelong again."

Geelong issues a statement on Nathan Ablett declaring that they have been in regular contact with him.

However, a decision on his playing future is still pending with the club saying they will not put a timeline on it nor will they be expecting a resolution until the new year.

"Geelong does not expect an answer from Nathan Ablett regarding his playing future until the new year," the club said.

"The premiership forward has been traveling since he decided to take time away from the game and the club, which has been in regular contact with Nathan, said today that it had not put a time frame on a decision from him."

Gary Ablett Snr issues a statement denying that speaking publicly just days ago led to his son, Nathan, walking out on Geelong.

"I can tell you that Nathan's decision to consider retirement has had absolutely nothing to do with me," Ablett said adding that he took offence at Geelong coach Mark Thompson's insinuation that he was responsible for Nathan's decision.

"I find Mark Thompson's admission that Nathan's retirement may have been in part to do with my recent interview both offensive and naive, to say the least," Ablett said. "I would have expected a little more discretion and maturity from a man in his position."

Nathan Ablett walks out on the Cats during the pre-season just weeks after helping Geelong win their historic 2007 premiership.

Cat's general manager of football operations Neil Balme said that Ablett expressed the need for some time away from football.

"He explained to the club's leadership group and the coaching staff that he was feeling extra pressure and all parties felt it best that he take time away from the club," Balme said.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson later admits that the young Ablett may have felt added pressure from Ablett's father, Gary who had spoken publicly about his drug addiction and involvement in the death of Alicia Horan just days ago.

"You never know with Nathan what's going to come, but he's just struggling a bit at the moment," Thompson said. "The best thing for Nathan to do would be to continue to play because we can look after him as well as anybody."