Ablett will miss the rest of the 2014 season after choosing to undergo reconstructive surgery on his injured shoulder.
Gold Coast Suns captain Gary Ablett will miss the rest of the AFL season after electing to undergo shoulder surgery to repair his left shoulder.
Ablett dislocated his shoulder during the third term of Gold Coast’s five-point win over Collingwood at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
Scans on Monday cleared the two-time Brownlow Medal winner of bone damage, but after in-depth consultations with Melbourne specialists, Ablett and Suns medical staff believed reconstructive surgery was the most appropriate way to repair the shoulder.
Ablett admitted in a club statement that is was a tough decision to make.
“We have been extremely thorough in our review of the injury, and after careful consideration, reconstructive surgery was a tough decision to make, but the correct one,” he said.
“This is the most significant injury of my playing career, and we have made the decision in the interest of my long-term playing career.
“It has been a very difficult decision, in particular as there is a temptation to compromise my shoulder’s long-term movement, in a bid to get back and assist the team to make our first finals appearance.”
Gold Coast football manager Marcus Ashcroft said that Ablett’s decision had the full backing of the club.
“Gary has been presented with an extremely difficult decision; as a club we always have the long-term future of our players at the forefront of our minds when it comes to matters like these,” he said.
“Gary knows his body better than anyone else, and we know that by having the surgery he will make a full recovery and be back better than ever ready for the 2015 season.”
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