Nathan Ablett will rejoin his brother Gary after being selected by the Gold Coast SUNS in this morning’s Pre Season Draft.

Ablett was offered no guarantees by the GC SUNS after the 2010 VFL season, but a solid pre-season has convinced the club the key forward still had the desire and skill to return to top level AFL.

He said he was thrilled to finally have his future secured.

“It’s really exciting and definitely nice to now know I’m going to be here next year especially at a new club.”

Ablett believes a solid pre-season is paying dividends.

“My pre-season’s been pretty good so far. The first couple of weeks are always pretty challenging but hopefully I can continue on and work my way to some good fitness. I’m definitely feeling fitter. I’ve lost a couple of kilos. From here I’ve just got to look after the body and do all the right things to keep myself right and hopefully I’ll be able to play some good football.”

He said the arrival of his brother to the GC SUNS fold was a real bonus.

“It’s always hard being away from friends and family but being part of a football club definitely makes it easier and it’s been great having Gary here. We stay in regular touch and we’re pretty close. When he made his announcement that he was coming up I was absolutely rapt.”

Marcus Ashcroft, Gold Coast SUNS Football Manager, said Ablett would be a welcome addition to the club’s forward stocks.

“He’s an experienced premiership player who is big and physical and he’ll provide a strong attacking option for us in our first AFL season,” Ashcroft said.

“His intensity over the pre-season has been impressive. He’s putting in and improving all the time. He needs to keep working hard, but he definitely deserves the opportunity to be on an AFL list again.”