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Gary Ablett: An Autobiography
Gary Ablett: An autobiography celebrates AFL legend Gary Ablett’s stellar career. Reliving key moments and events in his life, this memoir not only explores Gary's great success at the very top of the AFL, but also his journey to get there.
Drafted in 2001, Gary’s incredible career has spanned two great clubs, two Grand Finals and two Brownlow medals among many other accolades. In his book, Gary takes readers through the trials and triumphs of his life: his close bonds with his family; his famous father Gary Ablett Senior’s influence on his life; joining Geelong Football Club along with his brother Nathan; becoming a star player and the pressure that brings from the media; taking on new challenges when he left his home town to join the newly minted Suns football team on the Gold Coast; becoming a captain and leading the Suns; dealing with injury and the pressure that you come under then; the joy of returning home to Geelong Football Club even though it was accompanied by a tragic family event; settling back in Victoria with his wife Jordan and baby Levi and a future that will no doubt always have football somewhere in it.
Illustrated with many never-before-seen photographs from private collections, and including contributions from Joel Selwood, Mark Thompson, Gary's mum, Sue, and Gary Ablett Snr, this book is packed with images and stories that will bring the book to life and remind the reader of the many great moments in Gary's career.
From childhood to his zenith as a player, Gary's story will be a book to read and re-read about a player without equal.
Drafted in 2001, Gary’s incredible career has spanned two great clubs, two Grand Finals and two Brownlow medals among many other accolades. In his book, Gary takes readers through the trials and triumphs of his life: his close bonds with his family; his famous father Gary Ablett Senior’s influence on his life; joining Geelong Football Club along with his brother Nathan; becoming a star player and the pressure that brings from the media; taking on new challenges when he left his home town to join the newly minted Suns football team on the Gold Coast; becoming a captain and leading the Suns; dealing with injury and the pressure that you come under then; the joy of returning home to Geelong Football Club even though it was accompanied by a tragic family event; settling back in Victoria with his wife Jordan and baby Levi and a future that will no doubt always have football somewhere in it.
Illustrated with many never-before-seen photographs from private collections, and including contributions from Joel Selwood, Mark Thompson, Gary's mum, Sue, and Gary Ablett Snr, this book is packed with images and stories that will bring the book to life and remind the reader of the many great moments in Gary's career.
From childhood to his zenith as a player, Gary's story will be a book to read and re-read about a player without equal.
- GenresBiography
304 pages, Hardcover
Published October 29, 2020
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52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 1, 2021
It’s a fan book. Beautifully printed with big pictures within hardcovers; it’s a book to celebrate a gifted athlete. Not to dig too deep. More hagiographic than revelatory. Rather like a trophy for the bookshelves, especially if, like me, the last time Hawthorn played Geelong, I spent most of the game watching Gary.
November 2, 2020
Review complete....it’s a clear goal!!!!
What a fitting tribute to a man who has brought so much enjoyment to fans of the Geelong Football Club, the Gold Coast Sun Football Club and the AFL in general.
I enjoyed reading his insights into his AFL career, to what led to certain decisions in his life and how it played out. I especially loved the plethora of photographs on nearly every single page.
The tributes from Joel Selwood, Bomber Thompson and both his parents was a nice touch and offered another perspective.
This book is beautifully put together and is one for fans of all ages. There is nothing complicated about his words or his life. Just like on the football field, Gary has laid his life bare and all that was left in the tank was the crazy season that was 2020 (hopefully that will be an additional chapter in future editions).
This is THE book fans of the Ablett eras have been waiting for. Go on! Do it! You won’t be let down.
What a fitting tribute to a man who has brought so much enjoyment to fans of the Geelong Football Club, the Gold Coast Sun Football Club and the AFL in general.
I enjoyed reading his insights into his AFL career, to what led to certain decisions in his life and how it played out. I especially loved the plethora of photographs on nearly every single page.
The tributes from Joel Selwood, Bomber Thompson and both his parents was a nice touch and offered another perspective.
This book is beautifully put together and is one for fans of all ages. There is nothing complicated about his words or his life. Just like on the football field, Gary has laid his life bare and all that was left in the tank was the crazy season that was 2020 (hopefully that will be an additional chapter in future editions).
This is THE book fans of the Ablett eras have been waiting for. Go on! Do it! You won’t be let down.
September 7, 2022
One of the finest players in Australian rules Football in the last twenty years, this memoir is what you would expect in one way, a review of his footballing career.
For the most part though it is not much more that what you would have read in the sporting pages of the newspaper.
There are a couple of chapters near the end, and a few smaller parts elsewhere that open the curtain to the man underneath a little bit, but if you wanted an in-depth look at the man you would be disappointed.
If on the other hand you wanted a geezer to bang on about the game of footy and his part in it, then you would be satisfied.
It is notable that he is open and sincere about his faith, and this shines through the book.
It is not a bad book, but I guess I was hoping for a bit more about Gary and a bit less of the back pages of the newspaper.
For the most part though it is not much more that what you would have read in the sporting pages of the newspaper.
There are a couple of chapters near the end, and a few smaller parts elsewhere that open the curtain to the man underneath a little bit, but if you wanted an in-depth look at the man you would be disappointed.
If on the other hand you wanted a geezer to bang on about the game of footy and his part in it, then you would be satisfied.
It is notable that he is open and sincere about his faith, and this shines through the book.
It is not a bad book, but I guess I was hoping for a bit more about Gary and a bit less of the back pages of the newspaper.
June 20, 2022
A wonderful read of a footballer and person I respect very much. You'd have to like Aussie Rules to appreciate much of this book, but in and around his footy reflections are some wonderful chapters about marriage and his Christian faith.
June 8, 2023
It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great. Was an homage to the champion footballer detailing his early years and playing career. Was lacking in emotional moments or any real insight into his mindset and psychology and how he became one of the greatest players in history. I guess I was hoping for that.
March 13, 2021
Not into sport fan books, but enjoyed this one, coming to learn about a player I have enjoyed watching over the years.
May 26, 2021
A good book,he explains himself very well . Lovely photos.
March 7, 2022
Good read. I just don't underestimate why Gary didn't wait until the end of 2020 season to publish the book to finish off his footy story. Instead of leaving the 2020 season half done
June 20, 2023
it was really good and entertaining
December 12, 2023
Perfectly fine autobiography, just didn't go to deep.
December 27, 2024
Quite boring really. Only for the footy heads.
January 1, 2025
In his Autobiography Ablett vividly shares his feelings and experiences at Geelong Football club. He also reflects on what gives him meaning and purpose in life. I'd recommend this book.
February 12, 2025
Listened on BorrowBox.
July 6, 2021
Loved seeing insight into Gary’s life, however it didn’t go into his football career as much as I would’ve liked. Compared to Scarlo or Chappy’s biographies it really only touched on his career and how he coped through the years.
September 30, 2021
A book for fans - of Gary (and the Geelong Football Club). There is nothing complicated in the way he chooses his words or how he sees his life so far. It was an enjoyable read especially in the Christmas holidays that follow the crazy football season that was 2020.
It is simply written and details his own insights into his AFL. He explains how he made the bigger decisions in his life, including the move to the Gold Coast Suns and his return to Geelong. Wi there be an additional chapter to the book, that looks at the strange 2020 football season, at a later date?
There were many photographs throughout the book and there are also tributes from Joel Selwood, his early coach (Bomber Thompson) as well as from both parents which offered further perspective on this amazing footballer.
This book is beautifully put together and is one for fans of all ages. There is nothing complicated about his words or his life
It is simply written and details his own insights into his AFL. He explains how he made the bigger decisions in his life, including the move to the Gold Coast Suns and his return to Geelong. Wi there be an additional chapter to the book, that looks at the strange 2020 football season, at a later date?
There were many photographs throughout the book and there are also tributes from Joel Selwood, his early coach (Bomber Thompson) as well as from both parents which offered further perspective on this amazing footballer.
This book is beautifully put together and is one for fans of all ages. There is nothing complicated about his words or his life
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews