GEELONG champion Gary Ablett has accepted he has a "flaw" in his head-high blocking technique but has taken exception to suggestions he is a sniper.
Ablett avoided sanction for his high body 'check' on North Melbourne's Sam Wright last week, just days after he was cleared to play by the AFL Tribunal for a similar incident on Essendon's Dylan Shiel.
Speaking on behalf of Ablett, Cats coach Chris Scott said his star forward's reputation shouldn't suffer after the events of the past fortnight.
"He takes offence to people suggesting that all of a sudden after 330-odd games, he's decided. 'I'm just going to go around throwing my arms towards players' heads and get away with it'," Scott said on Thursday.
"I think genuinely he feels, if now all of a sudden people think he's a bit of a sniper, he'd be uncomfortable with that.
"In days gone by, let's say (former defender) Matthew Scarlett, if I can embarrass him a little bit. If people said, 'Matty, we think you're a little bit of a sniper', he'd almost take it as a badge of honour.
"Gary's different, he doesn't like that reputation, he thinks he's worked really hard to avoid that sort of reputation. And I don't see anything in the last two weeks that should change that."
Scott accepted Ablett's new role as a permanent forward had created a greater need to check running defenders and halt their run, therefore contributing to the blocking concerns.
He said the technique would be addressed ahead of this week's clash with the Western Bulldogs.
"Not so much on the track but we will do some on the grass if we feel we need to," Scott said.
"Where Gary's erred over the last couple of weeks is that, in our view, in part of trying to minimise the contact and protect himself, he's jumping and turning his body and lifting his arms which leaves him vulnerable.
"That's part of his technique he needs to fix up and we're really confident he will."
Despite early season suggestions Ablett would be rested in the first two months of the season, Scott said the 35-year-old would face the Dogs on Saturday at GMHBA Stadium.
Scott confident Ablett will improve technique
Gary Ablett has accepted he has a "flaw" in his head-high blocking technique.