Gary Ablett Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gary Ablett Sr. |
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Sculpture of Ablett by artist Stu James at an exhibition of football art
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Gary Robert Ablett | ||
| Nickname(s) | God | ||
| Date of birth | 1 October 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | Drouin, Victoria | ||
| Original team | Myrtleford/Drouin | ||
| Debut | Round 2, 3 April 1982, Hawthorn v. Geelong, at Princes Park |
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| Position(s) | Wing / half-forward flank / full-forward | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Gary Robert Ablett Sr. (born 1 October 1961) is a famous former professional Australian rules football player. He played for the Hawthorn Hawks and the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League (AFL). People often called him "God" because he was so good at the game. Gary Ablett Sr. was known for his amazing high-flying marks and for kicking lots of goals. Many consider him one of the greatest players in Australian football history.
Gary Ablett Sr. started playing for local teams near his hometown of Drouin, Victoria. He then joined Hawthorn and played his first game in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1982. After a short time, he moved back to the country. The Geelong Football Club convinced him to return to professional football in 1984. By the late 1980s, he was a huge star in the VFL.
In the 1989 VFL Grand Final, he kicked nine goals, which was a record for a losing team. This amazing effort earned him the Norm Smith Medal, an award for the best player in the Grand Final. He surprised everyone by retiring in 1991 but came back later that year. He played in more Grand Finals in 1992, 1994, and 1995. Gary Ablett Sr. officially retired from football on September 25, 1997.
His many awards include being inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame and being chosen for the AFL Team of the Century. He also won the Leigh Matthews Trophy in 1993 and three Coleman Medals for being the league's top goalkicker. He is still Geelong's all-time leading goalkicker with 1021 goals. In 2006, Geelong players voted him the greatest Geelong footballer ever.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Gary Ablett Sr. was born in Drouin, Victoria. He grew up in Gippsland, Victoria, with his four older brothers and three sisters. From a young age, Gary loved sports. He won a state high jump competition when he was 10. He also won awards for being the best player in his junior football teams in Drouin.
When he was 15, Gary left high school to become a bricklayer. He also started focusing more on football. He joined his brothers in the Drouin senior team at just 16 years old. After playing well in some country league games, the Hawthorn Football Club invited him to play for their reserves team. His older brothers, Geoff and Kevin, already played for Hawthorn.
AFL Career Highlights
Starting at Hawthorn (1981–1983)
Gary Ablett Sr. signed a contract to play for Hawthorn's reserves team. He played six games there but then went back home to Drouin. He returned to Hawthorn in 1982 and played his first senior VFL game against Geelong. He kicked one goal and helped Hawthorn win. He played six games in total for Hawthorn that year, kicking ten goals. Gary found it hard to live in the city, and he often missed training. Because of this, Hawthorn's coach decided to let him go.
In 1983, he moved with his family to Myrtleford, Victoria. He played football for Myrtleford under his cousin, Len Ablett. Soon, the Geelong Football Club noticed his talent. Geelong convinced him to try professional football again in the city of Geelong. After talking with Hawthorn, Geelong paid $60,000 to get Gary Ablett Sr. in 1984.
Early Years at Geelong (1984–1988)
Gary Ablett Sr. signed a one-year contract with Geelong for the 1984 season. He played his first game for Geelong in Round 1. After only nine games, he was chosen to play for Victoria in a State of Origin game. He was the best player on the field, kicking eight goals. In 1984, he played 15 games and kicked 33 goals. He won the Carji Greeves Medal as Geelong's best and fairest player. After this great first season, he signed a new three-year contract with Geelong.
Playing mostly as a half-forward, Gary won Geelong's goalkicking award for the next two seasons, with 82 and 65 goals. Even though he was known for being relaxed about training, he still finished in the top three for Geelong's best and fairest awards from 1985 to 1987.
In 1987, his contract was ending. He surprised everyone by signing a new five-year contract with his old club, Hawthorn. But after a short time, he decided to stay with Geelong. He agreed to a good five-year contract that kept him at the club for a long time.
Gary started the 1988 season very strongly. He kicked 59 goals in just 11 games. He kicked 10 goals against Richmond and 11 against Brisbane. He finished the season with 82 goals, which was a great achievement.
Grand Final Heroics (1989–1990)
"The ball came down a contest and I was holding on [Ablett] ... He turned around to me and said, 'If you do that one more time, I'm going to knock you out'. I said, 'Now, Gary, that wouldn't be a godly thing to do, would it?' I still don't know whether he said 'I'm not God' or 'I am God'. Nedless to say, I continued to hold on as much as I could, for fear of getting knocked out."
In 1989, Malcolm Blight became Gary's third coach. Gary helped Geelong reach the finals by winning ten games in a row. In one game against Richmond, he kicked 14 goals, breaking a club record. This made club legend Bobby Davis say Gary was as good as the famous Graham 'Polly' Farmer.
In his first ever final game, Gary kicked three goals. Geelong lost that game, but then won against Melbourne in the Semi-Final. Gary kicked seven goals in that game. Geelong then beat Essendon by a lot in the Preliminary Final, with Gary kicking eight goals. This sent Geelong to their first Grand Final since 1967.
In the 1989 VFL Grand Final against Hawthorn, Gary started strong. He kicked the first goal of the game. By half-time, he had kicked four goals. Hawthorn was leading by 37 points. Gary kicked five more goals in the second half. Geelong almost caught up, but Hawthorn won by just six points. Gary's amazing performance of kicking nine goals earned him the Norm Smith Medal. He was only the second player from a losing team to win this award. Many people still say it was one of the greatest individual performances in a Grand Final.
Retirement and Comeback (1991–1992)
On February 1, 1991, Gary Ablett Sr. surprised many fans by announcing his retirement. He said he had lost his enjoyment for the game. He had faced injuries and personal issues in 1990. However, he was encouraged to change his mind. He returned to play for Geelong's reserves team in Round 12. This created a lot of excitement.
He then played for the senior team against Melbourne. He had ten possessions and kicked two important goals. Because he started the season late and wasn't fully fit, he didn't play his best. His season ended when he was suspended for hitting a player in the finals. He missed Geelong's final games that year.
Gary worked hard to get fitter for the 1992 season. Geelong had a great start, winning 11 of their first 14 games. They made it to the Grand Final against the West Coast Eagles. Geelong was ahead by two goals at half-time. But they couldn't keep up their strong play and lost by 28 points. Gary kicked three goals in the Grand Final.
A Special Season (1993)
Before the 1993 season, Gary's coach, Malcolm Blight, suggested he move from half-forward to full-forward. This was to help him play longer. This move was a great idea! Gary became an amazing goalkicker. He reached 50 goals in just six games, matching a 60-year record. He kicked his 100th goal of the season just eight games later. He was the first Geelong player to kick 100 goals in a season since 1976.
Even though Geelong didn't make the finals, Gary's scoring was incredible. He kicked ten or more goals in five different games, including 14 goals against Essendon. He finished the season with 124 goals in only 17 games. This earned him his first Coleman Medal as the league's top goalkicker. He also won the Leigh Matthews Trophy and the AFMA Player of the Year Award.
Continued Dominance (1993 to 1996)
"One part beauty, nine parts drama. Did he take it? Should it have been paid? Is it the greatest ever? Do we mark it down in the greatest-ever lists because of the question marks? What we overlook is the degree of difficulty, as a twisting, falling Ablett plunges to earth while still retaining the Sherrin with one hand. Is it a mark, after all these years? Still not sure."
Gary Ablett Sr. continued to be a top full-forward in 1994 and 1995, winning the Coleman Medal both years. He is the only player in VFL/AFL history to kick 100 goals and win the Coleman Medal for three years in a row. Besides his speed and skills, he was also great at taking marks in the air. A famous moment was his 1994 Mark of the Year over Collingwood's Gary Pert. This mark is even shown in a painting called the Game That Made Australia. People still debate if it was a perfect mark!
In early 1996, Gary was suspended for five games. He later said this long suspension was "the beginning of the end" for him. He finished that season with 69 goals in 17 games. His last AFL game was a Qualifying Final against North Melbourne in 1996. He only kicked one goal in that game, and Geelong lost.
End of Career (1997)
In 1997, Gary Ablett Sr. was getting ready for serious training with Geelong. However, he faced pressure to improve his fitness. In March, Geelong confirmed he would play that year. On March 31, 1997, he played in a reserves game and kicked seven goals but injured his knee. He had surgery a few days later. In early June, his knee still hadn't recovered, and he needed more surgery. During the preliminary finals in September, he announced he was retiring from football.
State of Origin Games
Gary Ablett Sr. had a very successful State of Origin career, kicking 43 goals in 11 games. He was first chosen to play for Victoria in 1984, very early in his Geelong career. He kicked eight goals in that game and was the best player on the field.
He continued to play well in these games, kicking four goals against South Australia in 1985. He also kicked six goals against Western Australia in 1990. Even after his brief retirement in 1991, he was chosen to play for Victoria again. In 1994, he kicked four goals against South Australia in what many call "one of the greatest Australian football games of all time." Gary Ablett Sr. always said it was a "tremendous honour" to represent his state.
Gary Ablett Sr.'s Legacy
Gary Ablett Sr. was known for his strength, speed, and amazing skills. He created many spectacular moments and kicked incredible goals. He was a great player in big games, kicking 43 goals in 11 State of Origin appearances. He also kicked 64 goals in his 16 finals games, averaging four goals per game. His record of 27 goals in the 1989 finals series still stands today. He won the Norm Smith Medal in the 1989 Grand Final, even though his team lost. He was one of only four players to win this medal while playing for the losing side.
In 1996, Gary Ablett Sr. joined a special group of players who had kicked 1000 VFL/AFL goals. Only a few players in league history have achieved this.
Gary Ablett Sr. was named in the AFL Team of the Century in 1996. In 2001, he was also named in the Geelong Team of the Century. In 2005, after much discussion, he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. The next year, he was voted the Greatest Geelong player of all time, even ahead of the legendary Graham Farmer.
In 2006, a part of Geelong's home stadium, Skilled Stadium, was named the "Ablett Terrace" in his honour.
Hall of Fame Induction
Even with all his achievements, Gary Ablett Sr.'s induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame was delayed for some time. In 2004, he asked the Geelong Football Club to stop nominating him. However, in 2005, it was announced that he would be inducted.
Gary Ablett Sr. did not attend the ceremony. He released a statement saying, "Being chosen to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is one of the highest honours a player could dream of. I thank those who deem me worthy enough to be placed alongside such respected company."
Family Life
Gary Ablett Sr. is the youngest of eight children. He married his long-time girlfriend Sue in 1985. They have four children: Natasha, Gary Jr., Nathan, and Alisha.
In 1986, Gary became a born-again Christian. He has sometimes said he feels a bit bothered by fans calling him "God," even though it's because of his amazing football skills. His faith was important to him.
In December 2007, Gary Ablett Sr. spoke out against media claims that his son Nathan had left football because of stories about his father. Gary usually didn't speak publicly, but he felt the media was bothering his family too much. He also contributed to a book about himself, sharing details about his life for the first time.
In September 2020, Gary Ablett Sr. shared a video online discussing his beliefs about future events.
A Footballing Family
Two of Gary Ablett Sr.'s brothers also played in the Victorian Football League. Kevin Ablett played for Hawthorn, Richmond, and Geelong. Geoff Ablett played for Hawthorn, Richmond, and St Kilda.
Gary's oldest son, Gary Jr., followed in his father's footsteps and played for Geelong. Gary Jr. won Geelong's best and fairest award in 2007 and 2009, just like his dad did in 1984. He also won the Brownlow Medal in 2009 and 2013. Another son, Nathan, was drafted by Geelong in 2004. Nathan was hesitant to play AFL because of his father's experiences with the media. But he joined Geelong and became a full-forward, just like his dad.
On September 29, 2007, both Gary Jr. and Nathan helped Geelong win their first championship in 44 years. This was a premiership that Gary Sr. never won during his 12 years at the club. Nathan later retired but then played for the Gold Coast Football Club with his brother Gary Jr. in 2011.
Gary Ablett Sr. also has a nephew, Luke Ablett, who played for the Sydney Swans and won a premiership with them in 2005. Two other nephews, Shane Tuck and Travis Tuck, also played in the AFL.
Concussion Lawsuit
In April 2023, Gary Ablett Sr. started legal action against the AFL and the Geelong and Hawthorn football clubs. He claimed they were negligent and breached their duty regarding brain injuries he suffered during his playing career.
Honours and Achievements
Team
- McClelland Trophy (Geelong): 1992
Individual
- Norm Smith Medal: 1989
- 3× Coleman Medal: 1993, 1994, 1995
- 4× All-Australian team: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
- 4× VFL/AFL Team of the Year: 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990
- Carji Greeves Medal: 1984
- Leigh Matthews Trophy (AFL MVP Award): 1993
- 9× Geelong leading goalkicker: 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
- Geelong Team of the Century
- Geelong captain: 1995–1996
- 2× Alex Jesaulenko Medal: 1985, 1994
- Geelong F.C. Hall of Fame
- Australian Sports Medal: 2000
- Centenary Medal: 2001
- Australian Football League Team of the Century 1897-1996
- VFL/AFL players with 1,000 goals
- 8× State of Origin (Victoria): 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 (c)
- Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year: 1993
- Australian Football Hall of Fame: 2005 Inductee
- 5th on all-time leading goal-kickers
- All-time leading goal kicker for Geelong F.C. (1021 goals)
- Only player to have won Coleman Medal and kicked 100 goals in three consecutive seasons (1993–1995)
- Oldest player to kick 100 goals in a season (33 years old in 1995)
- Most goals in an AFL/VFL Grand Final (9 goals in 1989 Grand Final)
- Most goals in an AFL/VFL finals series (27 goals in 1989)
- Highest goals-per-game ratio in Geelong F.C. history (4.22 goals per game)
- 4-time runner-up in Carji Greeves Medal (1985, 1993, 1994, 1995)
- 3-time third-place getter in Carji Greeves Medal (1986, 1989, 1990)
Images for kids
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Sculpture of Ablett by artist Stu James at an exhibition of football art
