Gold Coast lures Nathan Ablett back to football

FORMER Geelong premiership player Nathan Ablett has signed with the Gold Coast and will play VFL football for the club in 2010.

The brother of Brownlow Medallist and two-time premiership hero Gary Ablett walked away from AFL football after the Cats' triumph in the 2007 grand final.

He moved to Queensland to pursue a career in the building industry but, after playing a handful of games for AFLQ club Broadbeach, was lured back to football in a bid to reignite his AFL career.

“It is exciting because it is going to be such a young group and hopefully from playing three years of AFL I can give a bit of experience to the boys of what to do and what not to do,” Ablett told the club website.

“My aim is to play AFL again so hopefully I can use this as a bit of a stepping stone and play some good footy as well as getting myself fit.”

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said he held no reservations about the once reluctant footballer's drive to make a comeback to the elite level.

“I have had two or three chats and he has said all the right things. He has put his hand up so he has 12 months to prove himself if he wants to be part of the club in 2011," McKenna said

"He has already been involved at an elite level in AFL football and knows what it takes to reach the top.

"We are more than happy to give him the opportunity.”

Ablett played 32 games for Geelong, mainly at full-forward. He kicked 46 goals, including three in the Cats' thumping 119-point victory over Port Adelaide in the 2007 grand final.

He will begin pre-season training with his new club next week.