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Ablett’s future a worry for Gold Coast Suns

Getty

Getty

Uncertainty surrounds Gary Ablett’s long-term future as the AFL’s best player until he can prove his crocked left shoulder is able to handle the rigours of the game.

Gold Coast announced on Tuesday their inspirational captain is back on the sidelines just two games after making his return from the injury which ended his 2014 campaign in July.

Visibly hampered during the defeats to Melbourne and St Kilda, Ablett will not feature against his old club Geelong on Sunday.

Gary Ablett ‘out indefinitely’

Two days after admitting his shoulder was not 100 per cent and that getting knocks on it was “not ideal”, the 30-year-old was stood down with no timeframe put on his return.

Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said while Ablett’s shoulder was structurally sound, the dual Brownlow Medallist did not have a full range of motion in the joint.

“Over the first two weeks, being the only games he’s played this year, in match practice it’s been a bit sore with all the load he’s taking from some hits in tackles,” Ashcroft said.

“From Gary’s point of view and our medical team’s point of view the range of movement has been restricted.

“We need to make sure he gets that full range back so he can do the things we know Gary can do.”

Having already had nine months of recovery and rehabilitation, if this extra period of rest cannot get the joint back to full strength, the prospect of another season-ending operation looms large.

That would leave Ablett facing an uncertain return in 2016 as a 31-year-old player with just a half a season under his belt in the past two years.

Ablett is also off contract at the end of the season, although the Suns have tabled a three-year extension and would almost certainly be keen to re-sign the champion midfielder regardless of his physical state.

Whether Ablett would come back the same dominant player however remains a real concern.

Former North Melbourne and Adelaide great Wayne Carey spent the latter years of his career struggling to lift his left arm high enough to take marks, with his effectiveness as a key forward severely hampered by his shoulder problems.

Ablett was understandably sub-standard in his brief comeback attempt, racking up 19 and 22 disposals in both matches while making just one tackle across both games.

Despite the concerns, Ashcroft remained confident Ablett will return to the Suns’ lineup as the durable and dominant star he has been for his entire career.

“Our advice is that with some rest and the ability to add more strength, Gary should return in a better state to play,” Ashcroft said.

Regardless of the duration, Ablett’s absence is a bitter blow to Suns coach Rodney Eade.

With his team already 0-2 after disappointing losses to the Demons and Saints, they’ll face the Cats without their two most dominant midfielders with 2013 Rising Star Jaeger O’Meara already sidelined for the season due to a knee ligament injury.

-AAP

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