Collingwood may have dominated the Four N Twenty All Australian awards held in Melbourne last night with six players nominated, however the leagues best have a Gold Coaster as their skipper for the first time in awards history.
After winning selection in the side as a Rover, the Gold Coast SUNS Captain seemed shocked at the announcement he would lead the 2011 team.
Ablett was one of only four players not contesting the AFL finals series to be rewarded with All Australian honours and one of only six to retain their places from the 2010 side.
Ablett, who moved to Gold Coast this season, won selection for the fifth consecutive year and was rewarded by being named as All Australian captain for the first time, 16 years after his father was named captain in 1995. Chris Judd was named as his deputy.
Ablett had a stellar season for the Gold Coast SUNS, defying many critics with his performance and the way he handled the responsibility of Clubs Captaincy on and off the playing field.
Gary Ablett, Gold Coast SUNS (captain). Previously selected 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 (vice-captain) played 20 games in 2011 for 304 kicks, 45 marks, 301 handballs (eighth in the AFL), averaging 15.2 kicks, 2.2 marks, 15.0 handballs. Seventh in the AFL in total disposals. 18 Goals 17 Behinds. 119 Tackles. 133 Clearances (ninth in the AFL), 99 Inside 50m, 62 Rebound 50m.
Regarded by many as the best to have played the code, Ablett’s All Australian achievements come just a week after he was named the Gold Coast SUNS inaugural Club Champion.
The team was:
Matthew Scarlett (Geelong Cats) Darren Glass (West Coast) Corey Enright (Geelong Cats)
Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs) Ben Reid (Collingwood) Leon Davis (Collingwood)
Dale Thomas (Collingwood) Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Marc Murphy (Carlton) Travis Cloke (Collingwood) Dane Swan (Collingwood)
Stephen Milne (St Kilda) Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans)
Dean Cox (West Coast) Chris Judd (Carlton, vice-captain) Gary Ablett (Gold Coast SUNS, Captain)
Interchange
Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)
James Kelly (Geelong Cats)
Drew Petrie (North Melbourne)
