There is no doubt that everybody loves a bit of romance in their sport. We wouldn't be human if we didn't.
Take the events of 2016, for example. The Western Bulldogs ended their 62-year AFL premiership drought, the Cronulla Sharks broke through for their first NRL title after 50 years of trying, little old Leicester City did the unthinkable by claiming the English Premier League crown, the Hurricanes won their maiden Super Rugby championship, LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first ever NBA triumph and the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series since 1908.
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Yep. Sport sure would be pretty dull without a bit of romance.
But the overload of 2016 has left me all romanced out. It's time for a bit less romance, and a bit more fairness.
![No time for romance: Gary Ablett should not go back to Geelong.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170721032133im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/b/c/j/4/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gxeuyf.png/1500526977843.jpg)
After Gold Coast superstar Gary Ablett failed to be traded to his former club last year, the talk within footy circles has been about the little master's inevitable next attempt to return to Simonds Stadium, which will occur later this year.
Many are drooling over the prospect of the prodigal son returning home to Geelong, where his famous father and premiership-winning brother also made names for themselves.
Well, you know what? If you want romance, go read a Jane Austen novel.Â
Ablett might be 33, but he just racked up the 22nd 40-disposal game of his career against Collingwood last week and a ninth All-Australian jumper is within reach.
![Ablett is still close to his peak.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170721032133im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/1/7/w/s/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gxeuyf.png/1500514816126.jpg)
Make no mistake, the two-time Brownlow medallist is still close to the peak of his powers.
And if you haven't realised, Geelong are one of this year's premiership favourites and could be sitting on top of the ladder on Friday night if they topple Adelaide for a record sixth time in a row.
The Cats already have Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood. Would it really be good for the competition if they add Ablett as well, a few weeks after possibly winning their fourth flag in 11 years?
The simple answer is no.
We've already seen the Swans recruit Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin in the two post-seasons that immediately followed their 2012 premiership, not to mention the prodigious Isaac Heeney and Callum Mills via their academy system.
Is this how the system should work? The strong teams continually getting stronger with little to no dip registered in their long-term formline?
Ablett still has a year to run on his contract with the Suns, but wants to leave the club he captained for six years so badly that he hasn't ruled out retiring if he isn't traded to Geelong this year.
Well, so be it.
The Suns have been the laughingstock of the AFL for most of their seven-season existence, but they now have a golden opportunity to make a stand, play hardball and no longer be seen as a soft touch.
Why should Gold Coast gift-wrap the potential reigning premiers one of the greatest players of all time and make them even stronger for season 2018? Why should the Suns wilfully give one of their most powerful rivals such a generous leg-up?
Unless the Cats offer the Suns one of the most tantalising trade deals ever seen, Gold Coast should stand firm and make Ablett either play with them next year or go into retirement.
Yes, Ablett wants to return to Victoria for unspecified family reasons and that is fair enough. But he can do that without being an AFL footballer.
He is truly one of the nice guys of footy and is a universally respected figure within the game, but this isn't personal. This is about fairness.
Nobody forced Ablett to head up to the Gold Coast and earn the equivalent of a small country's GDP. He has done very well out of the game, and rightfully so. He is the best chance of all active players to become a Hall of Fame Legend further down the track.
But he made his bed and he now must lie in it.
If he wants to come back home next year, let it be with a developing Victorian team. Otherwise, it's been an amazing 16 years, but sorry Gaz, for the sake of the competition, enjoy your retirement.
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