Former Richmond great Kevin Bartlett has suggested Gary Ablett might be the greatest player of all time and it's becoming increasingly harder to argue with the Richmond legend.
Bartlett made the statement at the announcement of the All Australian team on Tuesday night where Ablett became the first player to earn eight consecutive All-Australian guernseys.
Only two others, Mark Ricciuto and Robert Harvey, have been named on eight occasions.
When one considers that Ablett also has two premierships, two Brownlow Medals, five AFLPA MVPs and five best-and-fairests to his credit, Bartlett's suggestion appears to be more than reasonable.
But Ablett was having none of that and was keen to play down Bartlett's praise immediately after receiving his latest honour.
"It's very humbling, but I've seen so many great players growing up watching footy and also played with, and against, a lot of great players as well," Ablett said.
"I don't think it's something you think about too much, I've been very fortunate with injuries and I just enjoy playing football — that's what it's about.
"These individual awards are just bonuses, they really are.
"Because the 12-13 year journey I've had, the friendships that I've made — they're the things that when you walk away from football that you really, really cherish."
Despite displaying his customary humility with reporters, Ablett admitted he found it hard to believe he now sat alongside Ricciuto and Harvey.
"Eight All-Australians? I remember getting to Geelong and thinking if I play one AFL game I'll be stoked and you look back now at all I've achieved and it's kind of like 'wow'," he said. "I never expected all this."
Ablett might yet have more celebrations next Monday night when the 2014 Brownlow Medal is presented.
The 30-year-old is in line to become just the fifth player in history to win the coveted award three times.
But he insisted he wasn't giving the historic possibility much thought.
"I go in with no expectations, if you walk away with it, then great. If you don't then you look to next season," Ablett said.
"The way I've always looked at it is that football is just a game. As much as I love it, it really is just a game. The individual awards don't define you as a person."
Ablett said hoped his old teammate, Joel Selwood, would win his first Brownlow Medal in six days' time.
"I would really love to see Joel (Selwood) get up and win one," Ablett said. "He's had such a great career, he's a ripper footy player, ripper guy and I think he deserves one."
