The two-time Brownlow Medallist was set to attend the Saints' training session on Thursday night before a club function, with more than 160 tickets sold.

While it was a shame Ablett couldn't make it, president Ian Wales said there's plans to get him back in the not so distant future.

"When things are out of your control, you can't worry too much," he said.

"We've had a year that gets you very used to that.

"From the conversation with his manager, he's assured me after speaking with Gary that we'll do something over the next short period.

"We went over to the footy ground for about two hours to send out emails and talk to people to explain the situation.

"I didn't really want 160 to 180 people rocking up and having to turn them away at the door.

"We tried our best to contact everyone and get the message out there."

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Ablett was also set to be the special guest at Albury's season launch on Friday, but has been replaced by Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

Broadcaster Anthony Hudson and former North Melbourne and Collingwood player Sam Kekovich are also involved.

Albury committeeman Gavan Schultz said it was a frantic couple of hours to try to organise another guest speaker on such short notice.

"I was in a meeting around lunchtime when Ablett's manager first rang and I couldn't take the call," Schultz said.

"Then I got a text saying ring me as soon as you can.

"The alarm bells were ringing and then when I called, my worst fears were confirmed.

"But thankfully Bellamy answered our SOS and the function will go ahead as planned.

"It's sold out so there would have been a lot of disappointed people if we had to cancel it."

Bellamy joins an impressive list of guest speakers at the season launch which includes Luke Hodge, Jobe Watson, Nick Riewoldt, Brent Harvey and Dustin Fletcher.

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