While Geelong coach Thompson said Ablett, a late withdrawl from the Cats side with a calf injury, was unlikely to play in next Saturday night’s Hall of Fame Tribute Match at the MCG, he said his star ballwinner should play if fit.
Speaking after the Cats had beaten Brisbane by 27 points at the Cattery, much of Thompson’s post-match press conference focused on the Hall of Fame Match and just who was likely to take the field in the May 10 blockbuster against the Dream Team.
Earlier in the day, the contest was rocked by the news of three late withdrawals – those of Ablett, Brown (quad) and Dream Team member Simon Black (groin).
Leigh Matthews had said last week that any player who didn’t play this weekend would be ineligible to take part in next week’s extravaganza.
Although Thompson didn’t completely rule out his own star.
“I’m not sure but it depends how his calf is,” Thompson said when asked about Ablett’s chances of playing next week.
“If he’s right to play then he should be told to play and we want him to play.
“But again with a sore calf, and missing [this match] for us, it would make it pretty unlikely that he would get up.”
Thompson joked that he felt torn when he didn’t see Brown, named captain of the Victorian side, run out against his team today.
“I almost half wanted him to play today so he’d be right for the Vics but I was very happy as a Geelong coach that he wasn’t because they were easier to beat without him there,” Thompson said.
“I hope he’s okay [for next week]. He might be very similar to Gary: touch and go whether he plays or not.
“But really if he is injured we can’t risk that … if he is injured he shouldn’t play and he should be right for Brisbane the week after.”
Thompson said correspondence between club doctors and those appointed for Saturday night’s match later this week would likely determine who would take the field.
“I think doctors appointed for the game are going to ring all our [club] doctors and to be honest they’re not going to pass too much information onto the coaches,” Thompson said.
“We don’t need to know the details of who’s injured from other clubs.
“So it’s all really doctors’ confidentiality and they’ll report to us who’s right and who’s not.”
