Ollie Demspey on a wing and prayer

Geelong star Ollie Dempsey says a faith-based approach to life endorsed by AFL great Gary Ablett jnr has allowed him to escape the pressures of being an elite footballer – while dominating on-field in a new role rival clubs have copied.

Dempsey, 23, said Ablett’s mentorship, whether that be through their shared Christian faith, or when it comes to discussing football, had been central to his growth personally as a grounded and happy man, while arguably becoming the most dominant wingman in the competition.

An ability to shrug off the typical fluctuating emotions of life as a professional footballer helped the former star young basketballer and state representative be named the AFL’s Rising Star in 2024, and play a key role in the Cats’ surge into the 2025 grand final. That superb form has continued this year, heading into Thursday night’s blockbuster against Fremantle in Perth.

“It stems from off the field really, nothing to do with footy, which has been great, for my faith,” Dempsey told this masthead of his relationship with the largely reclusive Ablett, a dual premiership player and Brownlow medallist, and beloved Cat.

“He has been seriously amazing for me with that, and then, obviously, when I do talk about footy with him, he has the best brain there is. He has got a wealth of knowledge ... especially, I feel like, the start of this year when I was playing a lot more inside [mid] during the pre-season. It was something that Kel [Kelly] wanted me to work on, gave me the opportunity to do so. He [Ablett] helped me a lot with spacing, and has been really good.

“Mainly, our relationship is outside of footy and faith based, and just getting a real good mate, which is nice.”

Dempsey likes to avoid the volatility of life as a footballer.

“I feel like it’s such an up and down, rollercoaster [life]. One week you are flag favourites, the next week you are not – you can’t win a game, and you are done, that sort of thing,” Dempsey said.

“You can take that personally with how you are playing. I feel like the first couple of years I did that a bit more.

“I grew up with a faith, then I sort of went away from it a bit. For me, my identity is so in that. It’s not wrapped up in footy, which is great. That’s something ‘Gaz’ has really helped me with. There is no better role model to have in that space with faith and footy.

“It helps me so much. It gives me so much peace and joy. I honestly come in every day, I love life, and really enjoy playing footy. I think it’s off the back of just the fact I don’t let it take control of my life. I don’t ride the ups and