AFL 2022: Jordan Ablett hails ‘beautiful’ grand final for son

Gary Ablett’s wife Jordan has thanked Geelong captain Joel Selwood for his nice gesture for her son Levi at the AFL grand final.

Friday, Selwood revealed plans to run with Jordan and former teammate Gary’s son Levi ahead of Saturday’s AFL decider against Sydney at the MCG.

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“I think it’s only right that an Ablett should perform on grand final day and it’s Gazza’s turn to cheer on his youngest son,” Selwood told SEN WA Breakfast with Gilly & Goss.

“It’s going to be pretty special for the Ablett family, but also for the Geelong faithful.”

Levi was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease which the AFL legend and his wife Jordan revealed in 2020.

The three-year-old’s heartbreaking condition means he will likely never speak and has a short life expectancy.

There were emotional scenes as Gary handed Levi to Selwood on Saturday as the Cats players ran onto the MCG.

Jordan could be seen in tears during the heartwarming scenes as Levi broke into a huge smile as Selwood ran onto the field with him.

Jordan earlier took to social media to let the Cats skipper know how much the gesture meant to the family.

“It’s hard to put into words how beautiful this gesture is, but please know that our family is beyond grateful for you and your big heart,” she wrote.

“You are a champion off the field as much as you are on it.

“It is our absolute joy to send our son with you today.”

Melbourne Demons superstar Max Gawn was among many in the AFL world who admitted he was moved by Selwood’s gesture.

“Ok Selwood did me good with the Ablett gesture,” Gawn tweeted.

Just last month, Jordan Ablett revealed three-year-old Levi was rushed to hospital shortly after a family holiday.

She said he was struck by respiratory problems after they returned from a family getaway to the Gold Coast.

“Not the return I anticipated,” she wrote on Instagram.

“The little guy was taken to the hospital yesterday morning after almost 3 weeks of fighting something.

“Apparently his little body was struck by TWO respiratory ailments at once. He has rested and is being cared for by wonderful doctors.

“He slept great (not poor dad though) and is doing better. Our little champion!”

Geelong destroys Sydney in AFL grand final

Geelong has silenced its critics who doubted their aging list would win a premiership, beating Sydney by 81 points in the AFL grand final.

The Cats played the oldest team in the league’s 126-year history on Saturday but were full of runs in a 20.13 (133) to 8.4 (52) win in front of 100,024 fans at the MCG.

It was the first decider at the home of football in three years, after two seasons affected by the global pandemic.

The Cats’ 10th flag was their second under Chris Scott and their first since 2011 after a heartbreaking run of five preliminary final defeats and a grand final loss two years ago.

“They’re so hard to beat,” Geelong captain Joel Selwood told the Seven Network.

“Everybody says it, but I think I deserved one.

“We don’t apologize for being up there, having a crack at it every year … this was built over five or six years.”

with AAP

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