TonyK
Tash Jayasinghe
CibbuanoDoor still open for Ablett return
June 16th 2008 23:16
GEELONG has left the door open for forward Nathan Ablett to return to the club but says his future would need to be settled shortly after the end of the season.
Ablett, who effectively retired from AFL football last November remains on the senior list and is contracted until October 31.
The 22-year-old Ablett is believed to be travelling in Australia and is not playing football at any level, but football operations manager Neil Balme said this wasn't an issue.
"Whether he wants to play footy or not is the only significant issue in this," Balme said yesterday.
"That's his decision and once he makes it — he hasn't made it to now — but if he changes his mind on that, I'm sure he'd come and talk to us.
"From our point of view, it was, 'Do you want to play this year or not?' Well, he didn't want to play. That's fair enough, we need to respect that.
"He's still a very young man and there's still a lot of footy years left in him if he wanted to do that. Obviously, we don't close the door on it. But it's absolutely up to him.
"It's Nathan's decision essentially, but obviously there would be an element of what the other players wanted to happen as well. But I've got no doubt that if he were keen to play, they'd be keen for him to play."
Balme said the club would need to know of Ablett's intentions by October 31.
"That's when his contract runs out and we've got to re-do lists. You know, that's a significant time. But it depends on what he wants to do, and what he lets us know he wants to do, and then we can sit down and work it out with him."
Ablett, who effectively retired from AFL football last November remains on the senior list and is contracted until October 31.
The 22-year-old Ablett is believed to be travelling in Australia and is not playing football at any level, but football operations manager Neil Balme said this wasn't an issue.
"Whether he wants to play footy or not is the only significant issue in this," Balme said yesterday.
"That's his decision and once he makes it — he hasn't made it to now — but if he changes his mind on that, I'm sure he'd come and talk to us.
"From our point of view, it was, 'Do you want to play this year or not?' Well, he didn't want to play. That's fair enough, we need to respect that.
"He's still a very young man and there's still a lot of footy years left in him if he wanted to do that. Obviously, we don't close the door on it. But it's absolutely up to him.
"It's Nathan's decision essentially, but obviously there would be an element of what the other players wanted to happen as well. But I've got no doubt that if he were keen to play, they'd be keen for him to play."
Balme said the club would need to know of Ablett's intentions by October 31.
"That's when his contract runs out and we've got to re-do lists. You know, that's a significant time. But it depends on what he wants to do, and what he lets us know he wants to do, and then we can sit down and work it out with him."
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