GEELONG champion Gary Ablett is tipped to miss at least a month of football in 2020 in a bid to have him cherry ripe for one last September campaign.
After playing 24 of a possible 25 games in 2019, the 35-year-old has signed on for his final season well aware he will need to have his workload managed.
Ablett enjoyed a scintillating first half of 2019 and was named in the Virgin Australia All-Australian squad before enduring a disappointing finals series.
After kicking 33 goals in the regular season, Ablett managed just one goal from three finals outings.
AFL.com.au understands the former Gold Coast captain carried a hamstring injury through September that limited his kicking penetration and speed around contests.
Ablett's manager Liam Pickering told SEN on Tuesday his client would take more rests during 2020 and aim to play about 18 matches during the home and away season.
Ablett's 2019 – where he missed just one game due to suspension in round 11 – was his highest output since his final season as a Cat in 2010 before heading north to the Suns for seven years.
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He is due to play his 350th AFL match against St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium in round five – a game Geelong requested as a home match to pair the milestone alongside captain Joel Selwood's 300th.
Ablett will turn 36 on the eve of Geelong's round nine clash against Richmond in round nine.
