Two former AFL captains have slammed absent Gold Coast Suns leader Gary Ablett, questioning why he hasn’t returned to the field despite being cleared to play club doctors.

Past Brisbane Lions champion Jonathan Brown spoke passionately on Fox Footy’s On The Couch program Monday night, and said Ablett had an obligation to do everything in his powers to play football, “even more so as a leader”.

Ablett has been out of play since round two with an ongoing shoulder complaint. Doctors claimed the star player had refused pain killing injections and been reluctant to take anti-inflammatories.

Leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins said Ablett’s reluctance to take anti-inflammatories could have delayed his recovery in its early stages, but his shoulder had clearly been aggravated in the first two games of the season.

Brown said it was time the star player pushed through the pain barrier to assist the struggling Suns outfit.

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“The question on everyone’s lips is ‘when is Gary Ablett going to return’?” Brown said on the program.

Former AFL legend Jonathan Brown stirs up controversy ‘On the Couch’. Photo: Getty

“I believe now that Gary needs to get back on the field.

“There’s an obligation as an AFL player to do everything in your powers to get out there and play football, with anti-inflammatories, taking painkillers, sometimes in discomfort and pain, even playing with injury. And even more so as a leader.

“You can guarantee every player on that list is looking to him as a leader.”

The comments come after Fairfax Media reported on Monday that Ablett won’t be pressured into returning from injury before he felt ready.

Manager Liam Pickering confirmed that the game’s best player would return when his reconstructed shoulder was right.

Leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins told the AFL website on Monday he believed Ablett may not play again this year if he was waiting for the shoulder to be 100 per cent.

On Monday night’s program Brown said Ablett’s courage as a captain did not compare to past and present club leaders who had returned to the field with injury, like Michael Voss, Scott Pendlebury and Tom Rockliff.

“It’s time for Gary to stand up and part of that is playing with injuries,” Brown continued.

“Obviously he’s been cleared to play, because he was cleared in round one.

“Doctors would not be clearing him if he wasn’t sound.”

Great honest feedback from Jonathan Brown on The Couch @FOXFOOTY re Gary Ablett injury rehab should play says Browny

— Robbie Mackinlay (@RobbieMackinlay) June 1, 2015

Fair clip from Browny on Gary Ablett #onthecoach — Brad Klibansky (@BradKlibansky) June 1, 2015

Co-panellist and former Hawthorn captain Jason Dunstall agreed with Brown.

“Although it’s his right not to take pain killers, it means he must play with the pain and endure the pain,” Dunstall said.

“If he’s not going to do further damage to his injury, he might not be at his best, but he needs to take one for the team.

“The fact he’s out there is going to do a lot more for the players around him, even though he might not be hitting the same heights as he normally does.”