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Key Facts

Full name
Geoffrey Ablett

Known as
Geoff Ablett

Born
13 March 1955 (age 68)

Place of birth
Drouin, VIC (3818)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 67d
Last game: 30y 95d

Height and weight
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
Hawthorn; Richmond; St. Kilda

Jumper numbers
Hawthorn: 2
Richmond: 4
St. Kilda: 15

Recruited from
Drouin (1973); Hawthorn (1983); Richmond (1985)

State of origin
VIC

Family links
Kevin Ablett (Brother)Gary Ablett Snr (Brother)Ryan Ablett (Son)Gary Ablett Jnr (Nephew)Luke Ablett (Nephew)Shane Tuck (Nephew)Nathan Ablett (Nephew)Travis Tuck (Nephew)Michael Tuck (Brother-in-law)Len Ablett (Second cousin)Alf Williamson (Great uncle)

Geoff Ablett

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
HawthornV/AFL1973-19822021350.6768%14.883.542.8921
RichmondV/AFL1983-198416120.7538%13.502.882.881
St. KildaV/AFL19851160.559%17.002.823.451
V/AFL1973-19852291530.6763%14.893.462.9223
Total1973-19852291530.6763%14.893.462.9223

AFL: 8,563rd player to appear, 390th most games played, 621st most goals kickedHawthorn: 624th player to appear, 34th most games played, 45th most goals kickedRichmond: 846th player to appear, 575th most games played, 368th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,300th player to appear, 803rd most games played, 565th most goals kicked

...has proved he can be a match-winner with his tremendous pace and determination. Is tall enough to take a big overhead mark and regardless of the conditions can kick the ball long.¹

Geoff Ablett was the first of the three Ablett brothers to make his mark in the VFL. Hawthorn recruited him from Drouin, and he overcame early injury problems to play a total of 202 senior games for the club between 1973 and 1982, kicking 135 goals. Exceptionally pacy, and a superb kick, he was one of Hawthorn’s best players, as a wingman, in the 1976 Grand Final defeat of North Melbourne. He also played on the wing in the Hawks’ 1978 premiership win against the same opponent.

His reputation as one of the fastest players in league football was endorsed when he won the VFL footballers’ sprint competition three times in succession. In 1983 Ablett was cleared to Richmond, for whom he played 16 games and kicked 12 goals in two seasons. He completed his league career with 11 games and six goals for St Kilda in 1985.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. “Football Record”, 25/9/76, page 16.

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications, Crème de la Crème

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Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.