AFL legend Gary Ablett Jr has praised his wife Jordan for orchestrating “the best” surprise early Christmas present.
Ablett shared a photo of his backyard that now features a half-court basketball court.
What makes the present even more special is Jordan somehow managed to keep it a secret from her husband during their house renovations.
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“Jords and Dreamcourts managed to keep this a complete a surprise while the house was being renovated!” Ablett wrote on Instagram.
“We’re looking forward to entertaining over the summer, playing games with the kids, and me having my own space to shoot.”
Ablett has always been a keen basketballer and added that the court will help him more than just being a fun activity with his kids.
“I’ve always found basketball as a great release for me mentally,” he said.
“Thank you Dreamcourts for helping my wife pull this off. The best!”
The company behind the court installation, Dreamcourts, was proud to be part of it.
“It was a fun challenge, and one that we hope brings you and the family some amazing memories. Jordan has set the bar pretty high for presents going forward!” they wrote.
The Ablett family grew to five this year with the birth of their second son in July.
The baby boy is their third child after son Levi and daughter Grace.
Last month, Jordan revealed her mixed emotions about other children heading off to primary school prep as their four-year-old son battles a life-threatening illness.
In 2020, the pair revealed that Levi had been diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease, which means he is non-communicative and may have a short life expectancy.
“This week I’ve seen so many of our friends share that their children (same age as Levi) are off to prep-transition which is a super exciting time for them and is without a doubt a milestone that should be celebrated,” Jordan wrote in a raw Instagram post.
“But to be honest, although I’m really happy for them … my heart feels heavy.
“I feel like I’ve been constantly jumping between two very different perspectives.
“Some thoughts have been quite negative with a ‘why us’ attitude, whereas others have been positive and hopeful.
“I’d like to think that the latter ones are the most dominant but it does take some serious effort.”
Last year, Levi was involved in one of the most touching moments in AFL history.
Moments before the grand final, Geelong captain Joel Selwood famously carried Levi through the banner as the team headed out to take on the Sydney Swans before the 100,000-strong crowd at the MCG.
It became an instantly iconic moment that will live with Ablett and AFL fans forever.
“It meant so much to us as a family,” Ablett told Channel 7’s The Front Bar earlier this year.
“I can still remember getting the call from Joel Selwood during the week and him asking if he could run through the banner with Levi.
“I said ‘no’ to him.
“I felt like playing in a grand final, being a captain, I didn’t want him to have to focus on anything else.
“But he said to me, ‘No, I really want to do this. It would mean a lot to me’. And when I told Jordy about it, she was in tears.”