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IN THE hours and days after Gary Ablett was subjected to an in-game physical mauling the like of which he had never been subjected to in 13 AFL seasons, the heavy pain of last July returned to his life.

Melbourne’s Jack Viney had beaten him up, fairly, at the MCG in Gold Coast’s season opening game, and the rebuilt left shoulder, while structurally enduring the onslaught, throbbed as it had post-surgery after Round 16 last year.

Soon after the Melbourne game, which saw not only Ablett thrashed but his Suns as well, Ablett told the Suns' power brokers he'd be playing in round two against St Kilda.

That game unfolded the same way. Again unusually manhandled, and with no significant support from the Suns teammates he had largely carried for the four years of the Suns’ existence, Ablett finished in a mess.

The shoulder again structurally survived the brutality of the contest, but Ablett was even more subdued as he tried to play football one-handed.

Initially, he publicly stated he would persevere with his problems but three days later, player and club, after hurried talks, decided to place a pause on the two-time Brownlow Medal winner’s career, ruling him out of at least the next two matches and possibly more.

Footballers suffer pain and footballers take painkillers. That’s just how it goes. But not always for Ablett.

Yes, he has taken sedatives before and he knows he will again, but he loathes them. They might dull the hurt, but they sometimes do other things to his body, such as recently when he complained he'd dreamt things he’d rather not dream. 

Ablett’s stance on painkillers is not, as some have speculated, linked to his religious ways.

Ablett does not deviate on his beliefs in any aspect of his life, and he will certainly not change his view of painkillers even as his career stalls as he attempts to work through his first really serious injury setback.

It is not the pain which has induced his time on the sidelines. It is an inability to convince himself he can again use his left arm in his trademark fend-offs when tackled. 

Ablett’s approach to dealing with his shoulder problems actually reflects the manner in which he is dealing with the other big issue of his professional life – his next football contract. 

Again, he is doing things his way, no matter the amount of pressure being applied from those around him.

The Suns actually believed he would sign a new deal before Christmas, when they had finalised their $3-4million offer for seasons 2016, 2017 and 2018.

As Ablett continues to ponder the fine print of the deal and seeks for it to be closer to the $4 million figure, the romantics speculate on him finishing where he started, at Geelong.

Cats CEO Brian Cook has been round the block way too many times to contemplate being a footy romantic, and he simply ruled out an Ablett return many months ago, believing the Suns deal was done. And he’s heard nothing in recent weeks to change his view. 

While Ablett is unique, it would be close to impossible to justify to Geelong's list management team bringing in a player who will turn 32 early in the 2016 season, at the same time that hard decisions are being prepared to be made on some of the Cats' nine players aged 30 or more.

The pain will continue for Ablett for some time. As it will for the Suns as they attempt to regroup, without him for the next fortnight at least, from a start to 2015 which has been horrific. 

Ablett initially wanted to play this weekend but is now aiming for a return against the Brisbane Lions in round five.

The Suns believe they will have his signature on a new deal in the same timeframe.