Gary Ablett has been keeping fit with Geelong premiership teammate Andrew Mackie ahead of the star veteran’s return to the Cats’ AFL hub.
The dual Brownlow medallist hasn’t played since Geelong’s round seven loss to Collingwood in July after returning to Victoria for family reasons.
Ablett’s son Levi has been diagnosed with a rare and degenerative disease, and his mother-in-law Trudy Papalia recently died after a battle with lung cancer.
But the 352-game stalwart, in his 19th and final AFL season, will on Tuesday fly to Queensland with wife Jordan and Levi as he looks to end his illustrious career with a third premiership.
“Really looking forward to getting our two weeks done in quarantine,” Ablett said.
“Then joining the boys and hopefully being able to get out there and play some really good football to ultimately having a crack at winning that premiership.”
With Ablett to return to the field, at best, for Geelong’s final home-and-game against Sydney, it will have been two months since he played.
But with no injury concerns, Ablett has been putting in the hard yards at the Cats’ GMHBA Stadium home ground despite dealing with tragedy.
Former defender Mackie, who played with Ablett between 2004 and 2010, has been helping push the future hall-of-famer at training.
“Obviously it’s difficult training by yourself but Mack’s been at 95 per cent of the sessions,” Ablett said.
“It’s just good to have someone out there who’s experienced that success and knows what needs to be done out on the football field.
“I’m feeling really good, and I’ve got no doubt once I get out of that quarantine hub I’ll be ready to go.”
Geelong have shot into serious premiership contention in Ablett’s absence, having won six out of their last seven games to sit second on the ladder.