Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett tried to leave the club at the end of the 2016 season, asking the Suns to trade him back to Geelong.

The potential trade period bombshell and the prospect of yet another star walking out of the Gold Coast was averted when Suns football bosses refused to entertain the Ablett request.

Fairfax Media understands the dual Brownlow Medallist, who left the Cats in 2010, told the Suns he wanted to move home to Victoria for family reasons.

Geelong became aware of the request shortly before the trade period began.