We have had nearly two weeks solid of articles talking about Ablett’s potential move to the Gold Coast and it’s starting to worry me. When I first found out players may have already signed on for the Gold Coast I immediately flagged my concerns to a couple of mates. Their response was that it couldn’t possibly affect Dream Team, but I now believe it is.
We now have Frank Costa coming out to explain Bomber Thompson’s erratic attitudes to the situation, but the simple fact is that he has lost his professionalism on the matter. He’s started shooting from the hip in a public forum about a personal decision that really should be respected no matter what Ablett decides.
There are few players, he may be the only one, to have reached the level of Gary over the past three to four years. The Cats have won two premierships in this time and I feel that his teammates, coaches, officials and supporters should all be very grateful for having enjoyed his talent for the time they’ve had him. He owes nothing, but Bomber doesn’t appear to feel the same way.
Make no mistake, this is a massive issue for the Cats and Thompson has created it.
If Gary has decided he wants to go to the Gold Coast, there is know way he can reveal that information now. Knowing that the coach disagrees so strongly with the decision will surely affect his performance. He’ll be worried about his teammates and supporters as well. How fans at the Cattery would react to such news is totally unpredictable, but I’m willing to bet that Thompson’s attitudes would have an influence.
You only need to look at Rodney Eade’s comments today for evidence that it could create issues.
My gut tells me that Thompson is trying to rush Gary’s choice because he feels an early decision is more likely to result in a win for the Cats. He’s playing with the fact that Ablett won’t want to play out the season if his mates think he is a traitor. What if Gary has already signed though..?
It’s seems very cavalier to put so much pressure on him when Thompson doesn’t know if he has signed. Maybe Thompson asked him face to face and Gary said he hasn’t..? In that case, Thompson has probably decided that he doesn’t want Gary in the team if he has lied to his face. Fair enough, I wouldn’t either, but I think a premiership is worth leaving that question unanswered for 27 weeks.
If Ablett comes out an announces he is sticking with the Cats, all well and good, but what if he doesn’t..? For the first time in the last three years, Gary Ablett looks like a risky proposition to me.
thedailydream.wordpress.com 