The strength of the relationship between Geelong coach Mark Thompson and Gary Ablett - indeed between the playing group and Ablett - over the next 13 weeks will determine whether the Cats can win successive premierships. Or not.

If Ablett's plans for 2011 become public - and those plans don't involve Geelong - then the rancour and feeling of betrayal among many at Kardinia Park are likely to completely derail that ambition.

Relations have been testy through the season. And they're set to get a whole lot more tense over the coming months. Thompson will be wondering, as will all Ablett's teammates - just what is going to do? Is he staying or is he going?

There are little signs here and there that all's not well within Camp Cat. Ablett himself appears on edge, agitated, often getting sucked in by the niggle when previously he would have risen above it.

Late in the loss to St Kilda on Friday, as the ball was sailing deep into the Saints forward line, he was stuck in no man's land between his opponent Clint Jones and, behind him and all on his own, Leigh Montagna. He opted to stay with Jones. The ball flew over his head and ended up with Montagna, 30 metres out.

Ablett was furious one of his midfield colleagues had let Montagna slip down to the forward 50 unmarked. He waved his arms about and gesticulated, a look of anguish crossing his face. The display was out of character.

Several of Thompson's pronouncements over the course of the season have upset Ablett. The coach has publicly expressed exasperation with his brilliant midfielder's procrastination, once or twice even belittling his performance in games.

If Thompson wants Ablett to stay, as surely he does, it has not been a particularly clever strategy.

Which is why the last few paragraphs of a Geelong Advertiser story on Thursday were significant. They revealed Thompson was feeling contrite and had extended the olive branch to Ablett - perhaps in a last-ditch attempt to stave off Gold Coast's advances.

In his interview with the paper, where he broached the Ablett issue for the first time, Thompson conceded his relationship with the star onballer had changed this year, and that he was now cautious of what he said to him, and about him.

‘'We're fine. There's been a little bit of a change but not too much. He's here to play, he's got to make a tough decision, we really want him to stay, I want him to stay. I think it's in his best interests long-term for him to stay,'' he said.

‘'Gee, I just can't imagine Gary Ablett, our little 29, one of our best players ever, playing for another club. I just desperately don't want to see it, for his sake.

‘'I've just got to be really cautious what I say to him, because I know that the microscope's on.

‘'I feel that, I feel that sort of pressure. I'm under pressure in what I say about him.''

But Thompson said he had no regrets about anything he's said about the 26-year-old this year.

‘'I can't help myself sometimes. I am who I am, I'm just a very loyal person, very honest person, too,'' Thompson said.

So there you have it. An acknowledgment the relationship between coach and champion player has changed this season and become more fraught. How Thompson feels under pressure whenever he's asked about Ablett. And how this drawn-out and draining saga - which is not at all of Geelong's making - is stretching everyone's nerves to breaking point.