The Gold Coast captain admitted he had expected the Suns to have tasted finals football by 2016, but he dismissed rumours he may return to Geelong to play out the rest of his career.

Ablett will spend the rest of the AFL season on the sidelines after injuring his already reconstructed left shoulder.

He has appeared in just just 35 of 66 matches over the past three seasons.

In interview on The Footy Show on Thursday night, Ablett said claims he would only play if he was completely healthy were untrue.

In order to return to football after his last shoulder injury he had undergone three hydrodilatations, a procedure where radiologists give fluid injections to ease pain, taken painkillers at times and used anti-inflammatory medicines.

"I've played many games where I've had to take painkillers to get up," he said.

But asked whether he had ever disliked the treatment options offered to him by medical staff, Ablett conceded he had not always agreed with them.

"There have been times where I've been offered painkillers and haven't chosen to take them, that's true," he said.

"You ask questions, the doctors tell you the risks of taking certain painkillers and you make a decision based on all that information."

He said his wife Jordan and father Gary had been supportive as Ablett battled injury and two years ago, contemplated leaving the game.

"I like to bounce things off my dad, he had his ups and downs as everyone knows, and he's just the most amazing support, he really is," Ablett said.

Ablett played for Geelong until 2010 and was part of two premiership teams before he moved to Gold Coast.

Cats fans may be keen for him to finish his career back at Geelong, but Ablett said he was happy at the Suns and wanted to help them succeed.

"There's been a lot of hard work go in over the past five or six years and I want to be part of that success ... I want to play finals football up there," he said.

Ablett said if he and Jordan were to have a son there was "no chance" they would name him Gary.