By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Nathan Ablett doesn’t get too carried away with being part of footballing folklore.
Four days after Richmond’s euphoric AFL Grand Final, the former Geelong and Gold Coast forward still hasn’t watched the match.
A laconic Mr Ablett – who has lived in the shadow of his famed father Gary and brother Gary Junior – is set to reveal his personal life journey at a meeting at the evangelical Catch the Fire Ministries church in Hallam.
Now living in Cranbourne and a member of the church, he says he has no set agenda, but just to give a testimony and respond to questions from the floor.
“I believe everyone can have their own opinions, but what better opinion than the one who created this.
“That’s where I get my right and wrong.”
He said he’d moved out this side of town to play with Warragul Football Club. It had given him the chance to be close to many cousins and relatives, such as his uncle, footballer and Casey councillor Geoff Ablett.
He wasn’t sure if he’ll soon be reunited with brother Gary Jr, who is speculated to be leaving the Gold Coast Suns for Victoria.
Looking back, Mr Ablett recalls the great jump from playing in country league paddocks to kicking goals in the AFL. It was new to him and he didn’t know how to deal with it, he says.
“I had hardly trained, maybe just once a month, before I entered the AFL.
“It became a full-time thing. Even on your day off, you’ve got to look after yourself; you’ve got to be aware of your diet.
“It’s a very serious profession.”
He remembers the high of playing in Geelong’s drought-breaking premiership in 2007 took time to sink in. He’d been quite relaxed on the day, helped by being in one of history’s great teams.
He looks back on that barnstorming season and his team-mates, the funny moments and the trips away – they’re the things that mean more to him than the Grand Final day itself.
“It’s nice to know, you’ve been through it, especially when you talk about a lot of people who’d like to win a premiership.
“I don’t sleep in my jumper still or anything like that. It’s a good memory.”
After that Grand Final, he suddenly quit the Cats.
He explains that it was partly because he was too shy to talk to others about the pressure.
He wishes he shared more about what he was going through, such as how to deal with being in newspapers, the pressures of performance and dealing with injuries.
There were weeks when he felt that he’d rather not play the next game. He became preoccupied with footy, footy, footy and wished he used his spare time to occupy himself with study or other interests.
“I was pretty raw, and I wasn’t understanding that a lot of the other guys were going through the same thing.
“As you grow up, you start to be more relaxed and get along with people more.”
Since AFL, he’s been a journeyman playing for Werribee’s VFL side and Gold Coast Suns, and travelling to NSW. He says everyone has a reason or purpose in life.
“Even now, I’m thinking every morning, what do I want to do.
“I’ve moved around and tried different things. I’m looking forward to settling down and starting a career.
“I think everyone is looking for answers about what’s right and wrong, and how do I make the most of my life.”
Mr Ablett will be joined by guest speaker Ismail Catak, and filmed by the US-based Christian Broadcasting Network.
The event is at 30 Star Crescent, Hallam, on 15 October, 6pm.
