The man who kicked nine goals in a losing Grand Final
In short: In 1989, Gary Ablett Sr. produced a performance so dominant it remains a cornerstone of Australian football lore. Despite his team's loss, his individual output was so staggering that it earned him a rare honor usually reserved for champions, cementing his status as a generational icon.
Gary Ablett Sr., nicknamed 'God', is widely considered one of the greatest players in Australian rules football history. His career was defined by a unique blend of explosive pace, aerial skill, and prolific goal-kicking. After a nomadic start—including a stint in the country and a brief, difficult period with Hawthorn where he struggled with city life—Ablett found his footing at Geelong in 1984. He eventually became the club's all-time leading goalkicker with 1,021 goals, a feat that solidified his legacy in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the Australian Football League (AFL).
His 1989 season remains the pinnacle of individual achievement. During the VFL Grand Final against Hawthorn, Ablett kicked a record-breaking nine goals for the losing side. This performance was so remarkable that he was awarded the Norm Smith Medal, making him only the second player in history to receive the honor while on the losing team. His feat also tied the outright grand final goals record set by Gordon Coventry in 1928. This era also saw him reach new heights under coach Malcolm Blight, including a 1993 season where he became the first Geelong player since 1976 to kick 100 goals in a single year.
Ablett's career was not without controversy or personal struggle. He was known for a 'laconic, lazy attitude' toward training and faced multiple suspensions for striking opponents. In 1991, he shocked the sporting world by abruptly announcing his retirement at age 29 due to personal issues and a loss of enjoyment, only to return midway through the year. He eventually retired for good in 1997. His impact is immortalized not just in statistics—such as his three consecutive Coleman Medals from 1993 to 1995—but in cultural artifacts like Jamie Cooper's painting, which captures his iconic 1994 Mark of the Year.
What makes Ablett's story compelling is the transition from a 'wayward' youth to a disciplined full-forward. After coach Malcolm Blight moved him to the full-forward position in 1993 to prolong his career, Ablett reached a new level of dominance, scoring 124 goals in just 17 appearances. By achieving this, he became the sole athlete to secure the Coleman Medal while scoring 100 goals across three consecutive years, demonstrating that even innate talent demands strategic growth to achieve peak success.
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