Gold Coast Suns coach Rodney Eade says Gary Ablett’s injured shoulder will never return to 100 per cent following his latest setback.
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Ablett missed the back-end to the 2014 season after dislocating his left shoulder in round 16 and was well below his best in his side’s opening losses to Melbourne and St Kilda.
The 30-year-old underwent a shoulder recontruction following the injury last August, however further damage sustained in 2015 means the two-time premiership winner is now out indefintely.
Eade says Ablett’s shoulder will never be at full-strength because of the reconstructive surgery, but is hopeful the star midfielder can come back stronger following his latest layoff.
“It’s never going to be 100 per cent, because he had an operation,” Eade is quoted as saying by AFL.com.au.
“Guys who have had ACLs are never going to have 100 per cent knees again because once you’ve had an invasive procedure, there’s some limitation within the joint.
“He’s never going to be 100 per cent. But I think the medical people and players who have had it before said if they’re over 90 per cent, it should be OK.”
Ablett came in for special physical attention against the Demons in particular, and his loss comes as a massive blow to a Suns outfit who have yet to notch up a win in 2015.
The Suns have previously struggled without Ablett, with the young side looking on track for a finals appearance in 2015 before their season fell apart following Ablett’s injury in round 16.
Gold Coast go into Sunday’s clash with Geelong as massive underdogs and there’s no doubt the Suns’ task has been made a whole lot harder following the loss of former Cats star.
Geelong will also be searching for their first win of 2015 following big defeats at the hands of Hawthorn and Fremantle.
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