FEW players will have enjoyed the pre-finals bye more than Geelong champion Gary Ablett.
The week between round 23 and Geelong's elimination final against Melbourne on Friday night gave Ablett a chance to rejuvenate after nine consecutive weeks of football, and given his record coming off breaks, the Demons have every right to be wary.
Ablett, who will play his first final since 2010 on Friday night, has averaged more than 32 disposals per game from his past seven matches after in-season breaks.
"He's always been good fresh, like a good horse when they're fresh," manager Liam Pickering told AFL.com.au this week.
"Good horses race well when they're fresh, and good footballers play well when they're fresh.
"The week off will have done him the world of good, just to recharge ahead of a finals series that's been a few years coming.
"He's just got the ability to know how to get himself up, and you don't need more incentive than a final to be able to get yourself up."
In Ablett's last finals series in 2010, the Cats fell to St Kilda in a qualifying final off a six-day break, the end-of-season bye not introduced until 2016.
That season the Cats would beat Fremantle in a semi-final, only to lose to Collingwood in a preliminary final, Ablett's last game as a Cat before his seven-year stint on the Gold Coast.
While Ablett's personal form after breaks has risen, the Cats are just 1-10 after in-season breaks, dating back to 2011.
That includes eight losses after mid-season byes, and a record of 1-2 in finals after a week's rest, the defeats coming in the 2016 preliminary final and 2017 qualifying final.
Ahead of Friday night's elimination final against Melbourne, Ablett's captain can sense his anticipation.
"I know he's definitely excited about the opportunity he gets again," Joel Selwood said this week.
"There was a probably a period for 'Gaz' that he didn't think that it was going to come for him.
"He's here now, it's really what he came back for to be honest. He wanted to come back to play finals footy. He gets the opportunity and he'll be ready."
Ablett's record post-byes
2018: R15 v Western Bulldogs – 31 disposals, one goal
2017: R10 – Nil
2016: R14 v Hawthorn – 40 disposals, 15 clearances, one goal
2015: R13 – Nil
2014: R9 v St Kilda – 37 disposals, four goals
2013: R14 v Adelaide – 30 disposals, two goals
2012: R14 v West Coast – 26 disposals, one goal
2011: R10 v Geelong – 31 disposals
2010: R14 v St Kilda – 32 disposals, two goals
Average: 32.4 disposals per game (career average in same period 30.8 disposals)
Ablett's record after injury
2018: R8 v Collingwood– 32 disposals, one goal (post hamstring)
2017: R11 v West Coast – 36 disposals (post shoulder)
2017: R15 v North Melbourne – 36 disposals, 10 clearances (post calf)
2017: R17 v Collingwood – 41 disposals, 11 clearances (post hamstring)
2017: R20 v Fremantle – 33 disposals, 10 clearances (post hamstring)
2016: R10 v West Coast – 32 disposals (post concussion)
2015: R14 v North Melbourne – 31 disposals, 11 clearances, three goals (post shoulder)
2013: R16 v Richmond – 26 disposals (post calf)
2012: R7 v Greater Western Sydney – 33 disposals (post knee)
