It’s been a sad period for the region with the recent passing of the legendary Kevin Ablett.
A daring footballer with a hard knack for the footy hailing from the fabled Ablett family, Kevin is remembered fondly for his time as a sporting figure, particularly at Drouin and Lang Lang Football Clubs.
Growing up in Drouin alongside seven siblings, including future VFL/AFL footballers Gary and Geoff, the family name soon became entrenched in the community and local region.
Ablett won an under-14 premiership at Drouin before breaking into the senior side in 1975.
From there, he joined Hawthorn in the VFL in 1977 and enjoyed a 38-game career at the top level with other stops including Richmond and Geelong.
“He was extremely quick,” Drouin Football Club life member and former teammate Graeme Davies said.
“He was skilled, a good mark, a huge kick like all the Abletts.
“He was extremely fast, you’d never want to play him, he just had that pace.”
While still playing at the VFL level, Ablett watched on as his beloved local club won the senior premiership in 1978 while he was at Hawthorn.
“When we won the 1978 grand final, he was the one doing the most celebrating,” Davies said with a chuckle.
“He had three brothers in the team.”
After his playing days in the top flight were over, he took on a playing coach role at Lang Lang in 1987.
There, he managed a fierce and strong Tigers side, including leading the seniors to the infamous 1987 West Gippsland grand final against Pakenham.
Unfortunately, the Tigers were overrun by the Lions 13.14(92) to 9.4(58) with Ablett booting a goal in the match.
He wasn’t the only family member to have a mark on the game, with brothers Len also slotting a major and Graham being named among the best on the day.
Ablett resumed his role in 1988 but Lang Lang couldn’t replicate the success and bowed out in straight sets.
“For country footy, he trained us very hard,” Lang Lang life member and former teammate Andrew Wilson said.
“He was very professional, he was good like that.
“He certainly changed the way things were done at Lang Lang the couple of seasons he was there, that’s for sure, he had a big effect on people.
“Off the field he mixed well with everybody, he never thought he was better than anybody, everyone was treated on the same level.”
He was a skilled and tenacious player, usually at his best at half-back or on the wing where he could use his pace to generate run.
But he was also a heavy-hitter that was never afraid of a contest.
“I remember he used to say to us when people take a bounce, he said ‘when they go to bounce the ball, that’s the time you can just wipe them out,’” Wilson laughed.
“That split second when they’re concentrating on bouncing the ball, just bang.
“I’ll never forget that and he did do it a few times, I can guarantee you that; he was ferocious.
“He was very ruthless when he played, he just had that explosive pace.
“Kevin played with that and he would just explode out of a pack and he was very good.”
Ablett returned to his home club Drouin in 1999 as a non-playing coach, where Davies served as his chairman of selectors.
“He was a good coach and a mentor for the young players,” Davies remembered.
“He had a really good knowledge of the game and was a really good coach.”
Vale Kevin Ablett, 1958-2025.
