Two-time Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett Jr will pull on the black and white guernsey of Glenorchy in their SFL Premier League season opener against North Hobart today.
The 357-game AFL veteran and dual premiership winner will take to KGV Oval at 3:30pm this Saturday.
Glenorchy District Football Club President Peter Barwick said the former Geelong and Gold Coast captain has taken his preparation seriously, completing a mini pre-season for the one-off appearance for the club.
“He’s got himself in really, really good condition,” Barwick told Pulse.
“He’s really taken it seriously.”
Barwick joked they would only get Ablett Jr back for more games if he performed well.
“So just the one game, well at this stage,” he said.
“See if we want him back or see if he wants to come back”
The connection with the club came through former Glenorchy premiership player Chris Ryan, who knew Ablett from his time at Gold Coast.
Ablett’s commitment has impressed Barwick, who revealed the 40-year-old declined to play in his basketball team’s semi-final in Melbourne this week to focus on Saturday’s match.
“He said ‘I had to let the guys go, I’m playing footy on the weekend’,” Barwick said.
“That just demonstrates his level of commitment and professionalism.”
Barwick said the AFL great plans to start the match in the forward line to read the game’s pace, relying on football IQ over speed.
Part of Saturday’s gate takings will support the charity Ablett and his wife established, Active Faith Ltd, which includes helping young mothers and babies in Papua New Guinea and supporting Compassion Australia.
Barwick said Ablett Jr was feeling good about the challenge of playing a one-off game.
“He said, ‘look, there’s an expectation on game day when you get there and you see people and you know those people are there to watch you’,” Barwick said.
“He said, ‘but I’ve always been really good at unloading pressure off myself, focusing on what I can control, focusing on, you know, the game as it plays out’.”
The reserves kick off at 1pm, with women’s football following the seniors game at 6pm. Tickets are available at the gate.
