Where would this leave Gardiner?

3rd generation saint · Sun 17 Jul 2011 9:42pm

Taking Big Ben's form and Kosi's good form over his last two games, I can't see a spot opening up for Gardiner for 2011.

joffaboy · Post: # 1107077Post **joffaboy** » Sun 17 Jul 2011 9:43pm

I thought our rucks were flogged last night.

Gardiner, in form is surely in the best 22.

The form part is the issue though.

i_luv_nick_riewoldt · Sun 17 Jul 2011 9:44pm

Was Gardy injured last week when he returned for sandy? Stanley was sore too after the game!

PJ · Post: # 1107084Post PJ » Sun 17 Jul 2011 9:46pm

I'd have Gardy working his but off. We need more than 1 option. There's still what 7 weeks before the finals - anything could happen.

mad saint guy · Sun 17 Jul 2011 9:48pm

Gardiner needs to be trying to get his body right in case McEvoy is unavailable during/before the finals.

plugger66 · Sun 17 Jul 2011 10:48pm

MG should play one more game, if possible to say goodbye of course baring injury. If he plays either Ben or Kosi cant unless someone can find a spot I cant see at the moment.

Bernard Shakey · Sun 17 Jul 2011 10:56pm

Unfortunately I think we've seen the last of Michael Gardiner. His body doesn't seem to be up to it anymore.

St Ick · Post: # 1107136Post **St Ick** » Sun 17 Jul 2011 11:27pm

plugger66 wrote:MG should play one more game, if possible to say goodbye of course baring injury. If he plays either Ben or Kosi cant unless someone can find a spot I cant see at the moment.

Considering Ben's workload over the year and the fact he is still pretty young, it wouldn't hurt to rest him to give Gardi a sendoff, we do have to keep winning though so its a risk to rest a kid for finals when we may not even get there....

St Ick · Post: # 1107137Post **St Ick** » Sun 17 Jul 2011 11:28pm

plugger66 wrote:MG should play one more game, if possible to say goodbye of course baring injury. If he plays either Ben or Kosi cant unless someone can find a spot I cant see at the moment.

Considering Ben's workload over the year and the fact he is still pretty young, it wouldn't hurt to rest him to give Gardi a sendoff, we do have to keep winning though so its a risk to rest a kid for finals when we may not even get there....

Also, we got smashed in the ruck last night - Ben battled hard and Kozi did some nice things here and there, but Niknat and Cox smashed us.

BigMart · Post: # 1107158Post **BigMart** » Mon 18 Jul 2011 12:16am

After all MG has played 43 games with us.....

He gets a gig if he earns one and a spot opens up...

Stillwaiting · Mon 18 Jul 2011 9:45am

A fit Gardy is still good enough to be in the 22. In fact he is very important.
For those who get to see Sandy play, where would Stanley be at the moment, is he anywhere near getting a game or is he just to far off the mark?

Life Long Saint · Mon 18 Jul 2011 10:03am

joffaboy wrote:I thought our rucks were flogged last night.

Clearly we were flogged in hit outs...But we only lost the clearances by a couple.

The Eagles ruck combination are the best in the comp and would beat all-comers.

It's like going up against Sandilands...You know that you will be flogged in the ruck but the midfielders know that and plan accordingly.

I thought that Kosi and McEvoy did enough around the ground to keep the WCE duo honest.

Gardi would help in the hit-out stakes but is lacking any match fitness at a time in the season when it's needed the most.

GrumpyOne · Mon 18 Jul 2011 10:52am

Life Long Saint wrote:
joffaboy wrote:I thought our rucks were flogged last night.
Clearly we were flogged in hit outs...But we only lost the clearances by a couple.

The Eagles ruck combination are the best in the comp and would beat all-comers.

It's like going up against Sandilands...You know that you will be flogged in the ruck but the midfielders know that and plan accordingly.

I thought that Kosi and McEvoy did enough around the ground to keep the WCE duo honest.

Gardi would help in the hit-out stakes but is lacking any match fitness at a time in the season when it's needed the most.

I thought we farted at thunder quite acceptably.

joffaboy · Post: # 1107231Post **joffaboy** » Mon 18 Jul 2011 11:00am

Life Long Saint wrote:
joffaboy wrote:I thought our rucks were flogged last night.
Clearly we were flogged in hit outs...But we only lost the clearances by a couple.

The Eagles ruck combination are the best in the comp and would beat all-comers.

It's like going up against Sandilands...You know that you will be flogged in the ruck but the midfielders know that and plan accordingly.

I thought that Kosi and McEvoy did enough around the ground to keep the WCE duo honest.

Gardi would help in the hit-out stakes but is lacking any match fitness at a time in the season when it's needed the most.

After watching the replay, I would say this is about right. Kosi played well around the ground and Mac had some telling tapouts in the finals qtr when the result was up for grabs, at least one directly resulted in a goal.

I was very happy that kosi was brought in to help out Mac, Cox and Natanui are formidable and shattered us especially in the 3rd qtr. Seemed to even up when fatigue set in in the last.

Gave our mids enough ball for us to win and that was the object. Still, I think a fit Gardiner is in our best 22, but how fit can a 32 y.o ruckman with chronic injuries be at this time of the season.

Thinline · Post: # 1107234Post **Thinline** » Mon 18 Jul 2011 11:05am

I reckon the game showed that ruckmen are only part of a midfield team and the broader clearance effort - they're not the be all and end all. McEvoy and Kozi played in front, muscled up, made a contest, and otherwise left it to the mids to play smart.

matrix · Post: # 1107268Post **matrix** » Mon 18 Jul 2011 12:14pm

what was it?
53 hitouts and 35 possies between nic nat and cox?

sure i saw something like that somewhere

if you know your ruckman is going to get bathed, start reading it off the opp ruckman.

Junction Oval · Mon 18 Jul 2011 12:22pm

It boils down to whether MG can stay on the track and play a couple of Sandy games. Then the decision is whether he has the form to make it into the side.

Playing fit, he is a required player IMO and the side would need to be re-organised accordingly.

Our worst case scenario is if McEvoy gets injured and we have no back-up other than Kosi

repta · Post: # 1107343Post **repta** » Mon 18 Jul 2011 2:13pm

Fit Gardiner is in best 22. We need him if the Saints are to go anywhere in September. Kosi has only played well in isolated quarters. Big Mac did well in the ruck on the weekend. Who cares if you dont get the tap but you win the clearance.

Spinner · Post: # 1107345Post **Spinner** » Mon 18 Jul 2011 2:17pm

Think that's it for Gards.

Reliability and confidence is the key. The risk of breaking down mid game is very significant and doubt even if fit he wouldn't played in front of McEvoy and Koschitzke.

Dr Spaceman · Mon 18 Jul 2011 2:33pm

Well as Sandy get to play this week we'll learn a lot more.

Gardi played half a game last time and he's now had another week off to get over his niggles.

If he's going to do anything this year he'll need to play on the weekend. And he'll need to play most, if not all, of the game.

Junction Oval · Mon 18 Jul 2011 3:36pm

You're right Doc. It looks to me like it's now or never this week for Gardy.

If he doesn't play for Sandy this week, or only half a game, I think that the body is saying that he will never get back, unfortunately.