The Gold Coast Suns were left blindsided on Monday after a public announcement from Gary Ablett revealed that he would be giving up the club captaincy, with much of the playing group actually unaware that he had held that position for the last couple of years.

“Maybe it’s because he’s been in and out of the side, maybe it’s because he spends half his time in Victoria, or maybe it’s because I’ve been cooking it for two years straight since I was drafted. But I honestly had no idea,” said an unnamed Suns player.

Ablett made the announcement to a group of reporters gathered outside his training base in Geelong, but was adamant that he remained committed to the Suns and would get up there for a game or two next season.