Gary Ablett has opened up about his strained relationship with former Geelong coach Mark Thompson, indicating that the two hardly communicated following a disagreement about his future back in April.
Ablett expressed frustration, believing Thompson utilized his name “to divert attention from himself” during a recent Essendon media briefing. He disclosed that the pivotal moment occurred when Thompson summoned him into his office “approximately four or five rounds into the season.”
“He pulled me aside in his office for a conversation, but it mainly revolved around ‘Why haven’t you signed with the club?’ I responded by saying, ‘Honestly, Bomber, I’m not really comfortable discussing this with you. I’m still working through it with the club’,” Ablett recalled.
“I felt like the coach shouldn’t be pressuring the player regarding contracts. We ended up having a significant argument in his office; he left, I left, and truthfully, he hasn’t spoken to me much since.”
During round five, after Ablett was recognized as Geelong’s standout player despite a 26-point defeat to Carlton, Thompson bluntly stated at the post-match conference that “he might have appeared fine”, but “I don’t think Gary had a great game today.”
On several occasions throughout the season, when Thompson publicly criticized his player, Ablett felt compelled to suggest that the club intervene, as he believed it was intensifying the speculation surrounding his potential signing with Gold Coast.
“The feedback I received was that they were advising him, but he was simply doing his own thing,” Ablett mentioned.
“It was disappointing that he made those minor jabs at me throughout the year, but I tried to remain professional and refrained from commenting on it.”
Ablett had hoped the matter would diminish, especially now that both individuals were at different clubs. However, he was irritated when Thompson took another dig at him during a media conference at Windy Hill on Tuesday.
“I just think it’s time for him to move forward and stop equating his decision to mine,” Ablett stated.
“I didn’t want to discuss it, but he keeps bringing up my situation, so I feel the need to clarify things.”
“I find it somewhat hypocritical for him to suggest I’ve wronged Geelong. I made my choice at the conclusion of my contract for my own reasons, just as he did with a year left on his own contract, yet he continues to criticize me instead of letting it go.”
When asked if the possibility of playing under Thompson next season influenced his decision to sign a five-year contract with the Suns, Ablett echoed his sentiments from when he announced his move north in mid-October.
“The Gold Coast represents a challenge for me. Towards the tail end of this season, I sensed I wasn’t enjoying football as much and needed to recharge my competitive spirit,” he said.
“My affection for the Geelong Football Club, the people, and the relationships remains intact, and that cannot be taken from me. However, Gold Coast is a fresh club being developed from the ground up, and I’m thriving here.”
His primary regret was that the current Geelong team did not secure a third premiership this year. He had attempted to tackle the Thompson issue by intensifying his dedication to help the team capture yet another flag.
“My approach was to focus on playing football at my best for the boys, and if our relationship had diminished, then so be it,” Ablett remarked.
“It’s challenging when your head coach isn’t discussing game strategies with you, yet I managed to communicate with the midfield, forward, and defensive coaches.”
He admitted he found it difficult, as he is the kind of person who swiftly moves past arguments, preferring to forgive and forget. “It did make for a long year,” he added.
Ablett noted that the player leadership group had addressed the strained relationship multiple times, encouraging him to prioritize team goals over personal disputes.
“The guys were supportive. Their guidance was to keep performing at your best, fulfill your role in the team, and if he chooses to behave that way, that’s just his character,” Ablett said.
He sensed part of the difficulty arose from Thompson attempting to shoulder too much responsibility.
“In addition to just being a coach, he became overly controlling, trying to manage the medical department and contract discussions, and if things didn’t go his way, it was no one’s way,” he explained.
