Jason Gram's rehab linked to Saints axing
Mark Stevens | May 25, 2009 11:56pm
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 42,00.html
ST KILDA gave little away on the Jason Gram mystery, but it's believed he paid for a form drop and lack of attention to detail off-field. The Saints were adamant Gram was originally left out of the senior team because of thigh soreness, which improved enough later in the week for him to play at Sandringham on Sunday.
But there were claims that Gram had not put enough time into rehabilitating his corked thigh suffered in the Round 8 loss to Essendon and paid the price at selection.
Gram's manager Ricky Nixon refused to comment, but sources close to the Saints said Gram's form had also been of concern.
For all of Gram's daring run this year, he has struggled to hit targets.
Gram's kicking efficiency this year is 53.8 per cent - the lowest of any player in the competition to have more than 100 kicks.
After eight rounds he was No.1 for forward 50 entries, but was regularly turning the ball over.
Last year Gram's kicking efficiency rate was 75.2 per cent.
Gram is averaging 2.6 tackles a game - although he is not one of the Saints' prime tacklers - and it is his role is to add much-needed run and carry.
Usually an automatic selection in the senior team, Gram went around in the VFL and was named among the side's best in its three-point loss to the Cats.
He is clearly in St Kilda's best team and his adventurous dash was missed against Brisbane.
Saints football manager Greg Hutchison said Gram was a victim of circumstances.
``Early in the week his preparation wasn't quite where we thought it would be to get him to the line for the weekend,'' Hutchison said.
``Because you have to make your decisions for your teams on Friday, we had to leave him out.''
On radio 3AW last night, Hutchison refused to respond to probing questions about whether Gram was disciplined.
Key assistant coach Leigh Tudor was discharged from hospital on Sunday, but missed his second match at the weekend.
Tudor suffered an acute case of appendicitis almost two weeks ago.