JIMMY Bartel says teammate Gary Ablett will not be fazed at having to front up for a grand final just five days after winning a Brownlow Medal.
Bartel, who played a crucial role in Geelong’s 2007 flag after winning that year’s league best and fairest, said his celebrated teammate would not be overwhelmed by the experience.
“He doesn’t need any advice from me. He’s dealt with media attention his whole career. He has won dozens of accolades and he’s still level-headed,” Bartel said.
“He has been amazing the last three years and has been playing brilliant football. There’s no-one happier for him than all his teammates. We’re just stoked for him.”
Teammate Paul Chapman echoed Bartel’s sentiments.
“We’re not going to get overawed by it or too overexcited, we’ve got a job to do this week," Chapman said. "Jimmy played really well in the grand final the year he won it.
“Gaz is the ultimate professional and he will be fine. We just need him to go out and do his job for us, as does the rest of the team.”
Chapman said he was relieved Ablett won football’s highest individual award after three brilliant seasons.
“He’s had a couple of hard years and was probably a chance of winning in both of those years," he said. "He just fell short but for him to win it and so convincingly was no surprise to us,” he said.
“When you listen to the betting you never know what the umpires are going to do. He deserves it and he is a fantastic player.
"He’s a great guy and a great team player and he deserves everything that comes his way.”
Skipper Tom Harley said Ablett would cope well with life as a Brownlow Medallist and may even go to greater heights.
“He could go to even another level now," Harley said. "There has been a huge amount of expectation on him to win a Brownlow.
“He’s done it now and he’s a really unflappable guy and I don’t expect Gary to change one bit. He’s a superstar kid and a superstar footballer as well.”