For all he's achieved in a glittering AFL career, Gary Ablett's time at Gold Coast remains an unfinished project.
The 33-year-old has won two premierships, two Brownlow Medals and on Sunday will run out for his 300th AFL match against St Kilda on Sunday.
But a man viewed by many as the greatest player of the modern era hasn't featured in a finals match since leaving Geelong to become the Suns' marquee man in 2010.
Speculation over Ablett's future at the Suns won't go away.
Talk of a return to the Cats is persistent and the man himself hinted in April he may retire at season's end.
Before any decision is made though, it's clear Ablett desires one more taste of September football.
"If I was to be completely honest, I would have hoped we would have played finals football by now," Ablett said.
"This season's not over. We've still got 10 games to go.
"I want to get back to playing some finals football. On the 'G, that's what it's about ... none of the younger guys have been able to experience that and it's a real buzz. That's something we talk about every week."
Drafted as the 17-year-old son of a Cats' legend in 2002, Ablett admits he had no idea what he would have done had his football career not come off.
Combining a solid work ethic to his talent the reason he feels he's been able to shake off serious injury over the past two years to achieve the 300-game mark.
"I would've been 30-31 when I had the first shoulder reconstruction, to miss so much football at that age I knew it was going to be a challenge to try and get back to the level of football that I knew I could play," he said.
"Obviously it's been a frustrating couple of years personally for me ... I know I've still got the football brain, it was just about getting the body right.
"I want to be able to take my game to another level so that the second-half of the season we can win more games and hopefully get our first taste of finals football."
Sunday's milestone match being in Melbourne will also give Ablett the chance to celebrate the achievement in front of his family, including his equally famous father.
"He doesn't normally give me an answer until the last minute but I'm sure he'll be there," Ablett said.
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