Hindsight is a beautiful thing, and in the world of football, we as fans tend to get caught up in the events of days gone by.
Every footy fanatic has that one player that they long to see take the field, however long gone their days of handling a Sherrin may be.
Whether it be Daicos or Doull, Ricciuto or Richardson, fans can usually point to a single figure that captured their imagination during their formative years of watching AFL football.
SEE ALSO: If your AFL team could bring back one player - Part 1
Similar to our 'If your club could steal one player...' series, this trio of pieces will go through all 18 teams in the league, pointing at the weak spots in their best 22 and picking one of four past players to slot into their lineup and remedy their club's ailments.
We continue today with the second six teams of the competition based on alphabetical order.
Option 1: Gary Ablett Jr.
A name that could easily have been on the Geelong list, 'The Little Master' had a successful stint in Queensland despite the performances of his side.
Moving up to the Suns ahead of their inaugural 2011 season, Ablett hit the ground running and captained the All-Australian side that year after a stunning campaign. The following year, he won his second Brownlow Medal and became the sixth player ever to win the award at two different clubs.
Although persistent injuries did mar the rest of his stint at the Suns, Ablett's seven seasons at the club remain the best by any player to have played across the club's existence. The midfielder also shifted forward on occasions, averaging above a goal per game in four of his seven years in Queensland.
There is no questioning the profound impact that Ablett had on the Suns' side, with the club still yet to unearth anyone close to possessing the same mercurial prowess as the Victorian.
Option 2: Michael Rischitelli
The former Lions midfielder made the switch to the Suns in 2011 and was part of their first-ever side.
Rischitelli usually shifted between midfield and defence, however, his tough nature meant he was always in the contest and up for a crunching tackle or two when presented with the opportunity.
His best year at the Suns saw him average 22.4 disposals and six tackles per game, putting him on par with his best-and-fairest season with the Lions in 2010.
Although the latter years of his career saw him phased out of the side, Rischitelli was a useful presence during his nine years on the Gold Coast.
Option 3: Jarrod Harbrow
Arguably the Suns' most faithful servant yet, Jarrod Harbrow spent 11 seasons with the side and was a staple of the club's setup all throughout.
The quarterback-esque half-back was a smooth mover by foot, constantly looking for openings to kickstart attacks from his position across defensive 50.
The former Dog won the club's best-and-fairest award in 2018, averaging 5.3 rebound 50s and 16.3 kicks per game to demonstrate the integral role he played in his side.
Harbrow is also the Suns' games record holder with 192, although that record will almost certainly tumble in the near future.
Option 4: Brandon Matera
Another man who stuck with the Suns for their opening years was small forward Brandon Matera.
The Western Australian was one of his side's main attacking weapons in their formative years with his ability to crumb packs and slot goals an important part of Guy McKenna's plans.
His best year came in 2016 when he played 17 matches and managed 24 goals, averaging 14.3 disposals and 1.4 goals per game with his performances being very consistent throughout the year.
Despite being traded back home to the Dockers in 2018, Matera finished with 101 games and 124 goals for the Suns and is ranked fourth on the club's all-time goal-kicking list.
Verdict
It shouldn't be any surprise that Gary Ablett Jr. is the player we're picking here, with the other players on this list barely taking a candle to what 'The Little Magician' achieved over the course of his career.
He would slot in perfectly with the likes of Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and Matthew Rowell and would be a genuine leader of the midfield brigade.
His record in Queensland is remarkable and with Stuart Dew still searching for his first finals campaign as Suns coach, Ablett could be the man to pick his side up by the scruff of the neck and take them to the promised land.
