Throughout a tumultuous start to 2015, the leadership of Gary Ablett has been questioned by the media with some sections of the press even suggesting that the dual Brownlow medallist step down from his role as captain of the Gold Coast SUNS.
 
Everything that could potentially go wrong has gone wrong this season with an injury list that has crippled the club as well as a couple of untimely disciplinary issues. And with Ablett managing only two games in his comeback from a shoulder reconstruction, the wolves have been waiting mercilessly at the gate.
 
Despite the constant media criticism regarding his leadership style, Ablett revealed that he has continued to grow as a leader during the most difficult time in the club’s short history.
 
Given the fact he is not on the park, it has been quite a challenge to defend himself, but Ablett says the leadership group have attacked their challenges head on in recent times, developing under the tutelage of revered football mentor Rodney Eade.
 
“We’re always challenging each other as a leadership group, so it wasn’t just me as a captain,” Ablett told ABC Grandstand during their coverage on Saturday afternoon.
 
“We do a bit of an exercise where as a leadership group we challenge each other, we’ll tell each leader the areas we think they can improve and the areas they’re doing well.
 
“One of them for me was just to continue to get better in the area of challenging guys.
 
“I think for me I’m probably more of a one-on-one rather than in a group setting. I prefer to grab a guy one-on-one challenge him in a certain area, make sure he’s getting the best out of himself.
 
“That’s the way I like to do things. That’s probably one area I want to continue to improve in a group setting and I’ll continue to do that.”
 
Not all leaders are cut from the same cloth as Hawthorn’s Luke Hodge or Geelong’s Joel Selwood. In fact they are incredibly rare. So to compare the leadership style of Ablett to this pair is far from fair.
 
Ablett’s leadership style at the SUNS has been follow my actions, rather than listen to my words. He is not overly demonstrative; instead he is like a wise university professor who provides gentle reminders and pearls of wisdom.
 
When he makes his comeback in the coming weeks it will be interesting to see how he responds to the attack on his leadership style. If ever there has been a time in Gold Coast’s history for an inspiring, demonstrative Ablett, that time is now.