Prodigal son Gary Ablett Jnr will return to Kardinia Park in the blue and white hoops for the first time in eight years.
Let’s have a quick look at his career at Kardinia Park.
Ablett Jnr made his debut at Kardinia Park in round four of the 2002 season. Geelong played St Kilda on a Sunday afternoon, in front of 23,563 people.
He had a modest start to his Kardinia Park career, collecting 13 disposals, five tackles and kicking two goals. Geelong won the match by 122 points as Aaron Lord kicked six goals and Peter Riccardi five.
Game 50 is the only milestone game that Ablett Jnr has played at Kardinia Park, where he collected 27 disposals in a 50-point win over Fremantle in 2004.
His first three vote Brownlow performance at the venue came against Sydney in 2008. Ablett Jnr ran rampant against the Swans finishing the game with 35 disposals and three goals as Geelong ran out 42-point winners.
One of his most memorable moments came against Brisbane in 2009, in his 151st game when he kicked that goal from the pocket in front of the now Premiership Stand. Ablett polled another three votes in that game after a 42 disposal, two goal effort.
In total, Ablett Jnr has played 66 games at Kardinia Park for 48 wins, two draws and 16 losses. He averages 21 disposals and 1.4 goals at the venue and has collected a total of 36 Brownlow votes.
His most recent performance at the ground was in 2013 when he was captain of Gold Coast. He was at his best with a 34 disposal, two goal effort in the 52-point defeat.
When Ablett Jnr runs out with his Geelong teammates on Saturday night, the roar from the crowd will be like nothing Kardinia Park has heard before.
Gary’s Homecoming – Ablett at Kardinia Park
Prodigal son Gary Ablett Jnr will return to Kardinia Park for the first time in eight years