Ablett signs for Gold Coast

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Geelong 2007 premiership player Nathan Ablett says watching his former team-mates - including his champion brother Gary - climb to the pinnacle again in '09 inspired him to sign for the Gold Coast Football Club.

The 23-year-old has agreed to a one-year deal to represent the club in the VFL next season, but he's understood to be keen to take part in the club's inaugural season in the AFL in 2011.

Ablett quit the Cats and moved to Queensland after scoring three goals in the club's record premiership win over Port Adelaide, saying at the time that he could no longer cope with the pressure and the demands of playing at AFL level.

But the establishment of GCFC and the Cats' second flag in three years has prompted him to reassess his future.

"My aim is to play AFL again, so hopefully I can use this as a stepping stone and play some good footy as well as getting fit," Ablett told the _Herald Sun_.

"I really enjoy living up here and the weather is the big bonus."

"It's good that rugby league and rugby union take the focus off AFL - it's not like Geelong where you walk around and get noticed a bit, so it's very different."

Ablett said he would be rapt to be reunited with his older brother, the reigning Brownlow Medalist, who has reportedly been offered up to $1.4 million a season to settle on the Gold Coast.

"I think there is that temptation for every player coming out of contract, but I am really not sure what Gary is going to do" Ablett said.

"I would love him to come up, but I don't know what will happen there."

Watching the Cats edge the Saints by 12 points on the last Saturday in September, he said, had rekindled an urge to get involved again at the highest level.

"In a way, I felt like I missed out on it," said Ablett.

"Seeing the boys out there that day, it's somewhere you would rather be than sitting in the stands, so I suppose in a way it did spark me."