Gold Coast City Mayor Tom Tate has congratulated Gary Ablett on becoming the city’s first Brownlow Medallist, describing the significance of his achievement in an exclusive interview with goldcoastfc.com.au.

“My congratulations to Gary Ablett Jr. for winning the Brownlow medal – it is so great that a Gold Coaster got up,” Mayor Tate said.

“He’s our most famous adopted son and to be the League’s Best and Fairest – he is well on his way to being the greatest.”

Tate, a proud supporter of the Gold Coast SUNS, says Ablett’s latest accolade had provided significant promotion to the region and it’s rapidly expanding AFL fan base.

“With someone like Gary, who presents us on the national sporting stage is successful, it brings a lot of accolades to the city as well,” he said.

“It puts our city on the map.”

Perhaps the most in-demand AFL superstar in the game’s history, Ablett is admired by sporting youths around the country.

Closer to home though, Tate said Ablett had developed strong bond with the people of the Gold Coast – in particularly the city’s youth, with his various community work in the areas of youth homelessness, respect and responsibility and in the northern growth corridor through the club’s Horizon’s Program. 

 “He’s absolutely magnetic for the kids to look up to, and every time you see him he always has time for the kids.”

With the city now boasting the 2013 Brownlow winner, the NAB AFL Rising Star in Jaeger O’Meara and a young crop of young stars on the rise, Tate said there had never been a better time to experience the AFL’s #1 venue for match-day experience by investing in a Gold Coast SUNS 2014 membership package. 

“For the Gold Coast SUNS to continually come out and give community effort and help, it’s a both ways effort,” Tate said.

“Now we have to make sure we go to the SUNS and cheer them on to victory in all their games.”