Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna admits the presence of Nathan Ablett is unlikely to have much impact on luring his brother Gary to the expansion club for the 2011 AFL season.
Nathan Ablett has a season to prove he's ready for an AFL return when the new club enters the league in 2011, as he will play for match payments when the Gold Coast plays in the VFL in 2010.
Nathan, 23, walked out on Geelong after the 2007 premiership win and moved to the Gold Coast to pursue a career in the building industry.
But the forward is keen to resurrect his 32-game career after watching his former teammates win the 2009 premiership.
McKenna is excited at the prospect of having Nathan as a spearhead in his young team, but conceded it remained a longshot to get Gary, the 2009 Brownlow medallist.
''I do know the brothers do get on and they do talk, like most families do, and I'm sure they will talk,'' McKenna said of Gary Ablett, who is out of contract at the end of 2010.
''Is that going to help Gary make his mind up?
''Probably in a scheme of 100 maybe one or two points it might rate. Ultimately it's a decision Gary will make.''
The Cats remain confident Gary, 25, will re-sign with them next year despite a carrot worth reportedly $1.4 million a season dangling on the Gold Coast.
One of the new club's challenges remains signing a marquee player from a rival.
Potential targets Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) and Kurt Tippett (Adelaide) all ruled out a switch by signing new contracts in 2009. Nathan Ablett may not fit the club's requirement for a star player but has signed a one-year deal and must prove his worth next year to return to the AFL.
He is currently recovering from an ankle injury but was looking forward to the challenge of playing at the new club.
''It is exciting because it is going to be such a young group and hopefully from playing three years of AFL I can give a bit of experience to the boys of what to do and what not to do,'' he said.
''My aim is to play AFL again so hopefully I can use this as a bit of a stepping stone and play some good footy as well as getting myself fit.''
McKenna said Ablett had ''grown up'' since leaving Geelong, and had missed playing at an elite level.
''Since moving away from Geelong and having watched what his brother and teammates did and what Geelong have done, he's realised 'Maybe I did take that the premiership for granted and maybe I've got more things I want to succeed at in my AFL career,''' he said.
AAP