The club has opened discussions with Geelong after Ablett told the Suns on Tuesday he wanted to be traded back to the Cats during the upcoming exchange period.

Speculation has been constant throughout the season that the 33-year-old would call time on his career if he can’t secure a return to Kardinia Park.

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Suns chief executive Mark Evans says there was no such indication given by the dual Brownlow Medallist.

“He didn’t say that to me,” he said.

“It was a very amicable meeting.

“He was there himself and told us himself. We said ‘logically, you’re a Gold Coast Suns player’ so everybody’s got a bit of work to do over the next three weeks.”

The Suns are interested in star duo Mitch Duncan and Nakia Cockatoo, although Geelong would almost certainly not be prepared to trade away either player as part of an Ablett deal.

Evans made it clear on Wednesday the Suns won’t be releasing Ablett easily, having refused a trade request last year, and said the current situation was only a small change from that position.

“It’s mostly a no this time as opposed to a definite no,” he said.

“This is a part of the world we live in. The player is certainly welcome to request what their preference is but it’s a different thing altogether.

“He certainly said yesterday it was his preference to go to Geelong next year. We said there’ll be some conditions to be met if that’s to occur.

“That will play out over the next three weeks. We’re not sure whether it will occur or not.”