From Gold Coast Bulletin
Reported by Nick Smart
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GOLD Coast Football Club forward Nathan Ablett is at long odds to be fit for a mouth-watering face-off against his former club Geelong, despite training strongly yesterday.
Ablett, who missed last week's clash against Bendigo with a burst blood vessel, looked robust in a testing hitout with the main squad, but club bosses do not want to risk an early comeback.
The 23-year-old, whose left leg was heavily strapped, completed all drills asked of him in the sharp session.
It is believed Ablett wants to play against his former club but his body may not handle a full VFL match.
Coach Guy McKenna said he would be cautious when ruling on Ablett's immediate future.
"My mentality with the young kids this year is when in doubt, rule them out," he said. "I know Nathan is a bit older and he has been through the system of AFL footy and all that ... but I said to him today 'Do your best to get yourself in', but if there is any doubt we will rule him out."
It was set to be a big moment for Ablett, who won an AFL premiership at Geelong in 2007 before he took a break from the game.
Ablett had made strong improvement in recent weeks until the injury and had impressed with his dedication.
The club's task won't get any easier. The GCFC have been hit by injuries to their forwards in the past week with Charlie Dixon dislocating his shoulder in last Saturday's away loss to Bendigo.
The vice-captain is determined to be fit to face Geelong but McKenna said he would not play if there was any doubt, with the bye coming up next weekend.
"He was more confident today than he was yesterday but there is no urgency to get him back in," said McKenna.
"There are some other players we want to have a look at and there will be some players who will want to redeem themselves."
Midfielder Danny Stanley, who missed last week's match with hamstring soreness, is a 50-50 chance to play.
The Coast will be looking for their first win in the VFL this weekend when they meet the Geelong Cats reserves at Fankhauser Reserve.
McKenna said the mood in the youthful squad was still buoyant despite a tough opening to the year.
