Anyone Worried about MG?

[midas_touch]

Not much has been said about him right now, so I thought I'd make a thread on Michael Gardiner's current absence due to injury. I'm starting to wonder if this is more than the 'calf strain' that he was reported with having. Is it just a case of the Saints being extra cautious about the injury, or does anyone else have any inside information on his current condition.

[bigcarl]

well it looks like we've gone back to the GT innovation of using blake as second ruck.

[Saintschampions08]

Not much has been said about him right now, so I thought I'd make a thread on Michael Gardiner's current absence due to injury. I'm starting to wonder if this is more than the 'calf strain' that he was reported with having. Is it just a case of the Saints being extra cautious about the injury, or does anyone else have any inside information on his current condition.

From what i read, it was known he wasn't playing from the start of the week.

I find it a little odd, they went from a late exclusion, to maybe playing, to not playing...if he doesn't play against port, then i'll be getting worried.

[st.byron]

Not much has been said about him right now, so I thought I'd make a thread on Michael Gardiner's current absence due to injury. I'm starting to wonder if this is more than the 'calf strain' that he was reported with having. Is it just a case of the Saints being extra cautious about the injury, or does anyone else have any inside information on his current condition.

From what i read, it was known he wasn't playing from the start of the week.

I find it a little odd, they went from a late exclusion, to maybe playing, to not playing...if he doesn't play against port, then i'll be getting worried.

Doesn't bode well for us, given his injury history. Hopefully the fitness staff are just being super cautious with him to ensure he's absolutely 100% when he comes back.

[LENNY LEADS THE WAY]

Gardiner 2 games 2 wins gardiner out for 2 games and we have 2 loses coincidence i think not

[mad saint guy]

Calf strain = 3 weeks

If he's not back next week then there might be reason to worry.

[JeffDunne]

Who?

[The_Dud]

i also like the turn around from "yeah, Schnider will definetly play next week" to him not getting close to coming up....

wouldn't be surprised for a couple of customary late changes...

[saintbrat]

Luke Ball :

We’ve had a short week this week and have training this afternoon when we will learn more about the team but I don’t expect Michael Gardiner to be back for at least another week from his calf injury. It usually takes the big guys a bit longer to return from injury and that is the case for Gards.

http://lukeball.bigblog.com.au/index.do

[Life Long Saint]

M. Gardiner - 2 weeks


Sorry...had to be done!

[Zippy]

I'm not. Only having a couple of injured players to worry about is a luxury. Call me when we're missing 8 of our starting 18 . . .

[sunsaint]

Gardiner 2 games 2 wins gardiner out for 2 games and we have 2 loses coincidence i think not

The two wins were: Swans with no ruckman and carlton?
The two loses were: ran off our feet by the fast dogs, and out classed by the cats
MG would have not been the difference

[esaint66]

Gardiner 2 games 2 wins gardiner out for 2 games and we have 2 loses coincidence i think not

The two wins were: Swans with no ruckman and carlton?
The two loses were: ran off our feet by the fast dogs, and out classed by the cats
MG would have not been the difference

Absoloutly correct.

Today (never really, but mainly today) the ruckman has a very mior role around the ground after the centre bounce he may take a mark or so in midfield and float foward and have a couple of shots, but the game style against the dogs and the cats was not one that a player of gardiner's size or game style could have influenced majorly.

[To the top]

Disagree Sunsaint.

The game starts in the ruck, and if you can sustain a presence there your mid-field get the first look - and if they get the first look then the other side gets to look slow because that is the advantage of having the ball in your hands - disposal skills allowing.

In the last 2 games we have been forced to ruck Koschitzke, depreciating a key strength being a tall marking forward - and the one forward who can take a contested mark in the hot spot.

Plus we have not had the luxury of pushing a ruckman forward (King or M. Gardiner) to further stretch the opposition defence.

The absence of M. Gardiner has significantly weakened our team and our structure.

Plus he is one player who brings aggression at the contest and at the body.

This week we will ruck Blake - and that illustrates the difference graphically.

[bigcarl]

a friend of mine saw him out with benny boy the other night. not saying there's anything wrong with that though ... they are old friends

[vacuous space]

I don't see Gardiner as pivotal to our chances of success. King and Kosi doing the rucking is alright by me. I'd rather have Armo in as a spare centre than carry a second ruckman.

[esaint66]

a friend of mine saw him out with benny boy the other night. not saying there's anything wrong with that though ... they are old friends

Yes, but think what old friends can get upto????

[Otiman]

I'm happy to keep quiet about the issue, he'll be good when he's ready.

[Bernard Shakey]

Gardiner is a much more athletic player than King, and as such gives us much more advantage at hit outs (King can hardly get off the ground).

Gardiner's hitouts almost always go to advantage, King and Kosi less than 50%.

We miss him big time.

[esaint66]

Who?

I think if im not mistaken we are talking about Michael Gardiner.
You know the big guy? Came from West Coast? Smashed his car up?

[Mr Magic]

a friend of mine saw him out with benny boy the other night. not saying there's anything wrong with that though ... they are old friends

Benny-boy is living in Melbourne ATM and has been to all of our games so far this season.

[Ralphy]

a friend of mine saw him out with benny boy the other night. not saying there's anything wrong with that though ... they are old friends

Benny-boy is living in Melbourne ATM and has been to all of our games so far this season.

Does that say something that he is wanting to play for us

[Dan Warna]

benny will go to whoever pays him the most and is willing to help cover up his indiscretions.

[JeffDunne]

Who?

I think if im not mistaken we are talking about Michael Gardiner.
You know the big guy? Came from West Coast? Smashed his car up?

Ahhh . . . him.

Now I remember.

It's easy to forget a bloke whose career at St Kilda has been shorter than the buzz from a good high.

[saintsRrising]

I think it was MSG who posted on hearing that MG had a calf injury 3 weeks...which is about normal.

So how about people ease of panicking just yet??????