AFL 2025: Gary Ablett Jnr on Geelong’s premiership hopes

After beating Brisbane in last Friday night’s qualifying final, the Cats won through to their 14th preliminary final in the last 18 years.

Ablett played in Geelong’s 2007 and 2009 premierships before joining the Gold Coast Suns at the start of one of footy’s most remarkable eras.

And the two-time Brownlow Medal winner believes the success has come on the back of work off the field.

“I think it starts with building a good culture and employing the right people around the football club,” Ablett Jnr said.

“And then I think the other part is making sure you’re developing the players the right way. I’ve always been really big on quality over quantity. If there is a particular skill you want to do better, then you need to do it and make sure you are implementing the right things into your training.

“I think that plays a big part in they have some really great leaders down at the club that really drive the standards and make sure everyone is heading in the same direction and as we know they have a very good list as well.

“So many great players all over the ground and I think for that reason they are going to be really hard to beat this year. But I do think there are three or four teams I should say that can win it.”

The Cats will meet either Adelaide or foes Hawthorn in a MCG preliminary final at the MCG on Friday, September 19.

That game will be the 10th time Geelong has featured in the final four teams since coach Chris Scott took over in 2011.

Ablett said Scott’s leadership went well beyond game day.

“I think one of Scotty’s real strengths is the ownership he gives his players,” he said.

“Obviously he is the coach, he comes up with the game plan, the structures, and he make sure each individual is across that. But then he just lets you play. He lets you play instinctive footy and he backs you in.

“That is a real strength of his as a coach. He genuinely cares about you as a person and wants to get the best out of you and I think when you play under a coach like that you want to play for him and for your teammates as well.”

With Ablett’s former side, the Suns, still alive and a potential grand final opponent for Geelong, Ablett said it was a “win-win” for him if the two sides were to play off.

“Not a nightmare. Absolutely not. I’ll be happy either way,” he said.

“It would just be great to see one of those clubs get up and win the premiership, for different reasons.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Gary Ablett Jnr on Geelong’s premiership hopes