Wantaway Gold Coast star Gary Ablett says he has no regrets about his move to the Suns and his trade request back to Geelong is because of his need to be around his family.
After seven seasons, Ablett announced he wanted out of the final year of the Suns to shift back to the Cats, where he played the first nine years of his career and played in 2007 and 2009 premierships.
Writing for the Exclusive Insight website, the 33-year-old said his priorities had changed and he wanted to spend more time with his Victorian-based family.
“Sixteen years on, now married and looking to start a family, my priorities have shifted,” Ablett said.
“I need to be around my family back home, who I have spent the last seven years doing long distance with.
“My sisters, my brother, and parents all play a huge role in my life, and it’s time that I make myself more available to them and others back home.”
The two-time Brownlow Medallist said the move to the Gold Coast had been a positive one for his career and he didn’t regret the decision.
He said it hurt that the Suns hadn’t been able to achieve the success he hoped for when he signed on but felt they weren’t far off.
“People will wonder whether I regret my decision signing with the Gold Coast Suns. I can promise you, that is simply not true,” he said.
“Although I am requesting for my time to come to an end on the Gold Coast, there is absolutely nothing that I would have done differently.
“The Gold Coast Football Club has played an essential role in the man and football player that I am today.
“It has allowed me to grow as a player and as a leader.”
Ablett was proud to be the inaugural captain of the club, which joined the AFL in 2011, and said he always gave his all despite suffering numerous injuries over the past three years which limited him to just 34 games.
Despite that Ablett was adamant he still had plenty of footy left in him.
“At the age of 33, I am confident that I have a lot of footy still left in my body,” he said.
“But I am also aware that, at my age, it’s really all about balance.”
