McEvoy or Gardiner?

[battye]

I guess we don't really know the situation with Gardiner yet, but surely we wouldn't have played nearly 3 quarters without him on the ground in some capacity (if not for the rotations alone) unless he was injured (rather than merely unable to sprint).

With that in mind, if Gardiner is declared fit for next week... do we take the risk? Or do we bring in McEvoy?

[#1GILL]

McEvoy comes in for mine- even if Gardy plays too.

[FQF]

If he's fit, he plays. He is our number one ruckman.

Can't see it happening though, so Big Mac comes in (deservedly).

Also, looks like King has already started his coaching role seeing him in the box, pen in hand... very smooth transformation.

[DramRunner]

Simple really, if MG's 100% fit (or close enough) he plays, else Big Ben from Dederang plays.

[vacuous space]

Surely some consideration has to be paid to playing neither. Kosi and Blake handled the situation just fine and facing a quick team that rotates as heavily as Collingwood does, the extra runner might come in handy.

I suspect that one of Gardi or Ben will play next week, but you'd have to think the coaches would at least be talking about it.

[Dan Warna]

mcevoy has been playing well.

was unlucky but an extra tagger given collingwood's midfield was more important than an extra tall.

to what purpose was a marking forward when the ball was in contest?

[saintnick12]

I can't see how Gardi can possibly play.

DId he actually go on the ground in the second half?

I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure he didn't at all, which means the injury was serious enough to keep him off the ground, even more so in a tight game, leaving us one rotation down.
This indicates the injury is bad and I can't see him playing next week.

Good chance for Ben - and he will be fresh. Hopefully he's not too down after being dropped cos we need him to get up and get involved.

[battye]

Surely some consideration has to be paid to playing neither. Kosi and Blake handled the situation just fine and facing a quick team that rotates as heavily as Collingwood does, the extra runner might come in handy.

I suspect that one of Gardi or Ben will play next week, but you'd have to think the coaches would at least be talking about it.

Kosi and Blake held their own for sure, but I don't know if that is reason enough to go into next week without a specialist ruckman? It leaves us quite small up forward.

mcevoy has been playing well.

was unlucky but an extra tagger given collingwood's midfield was more important than an extra tall.

to what purpose was a marking forward when the ball was in contest?

In contest - sure. But what about the times when Riewoldt marked the ball between half back and centre wing and had no tall option to kick to, or even two kicks away?

If we bring in McEvoy (as opposed to leaving both Gardiner and McEvoy out) then at all times we should hopefully be able to have one tall target in the forward line. Even if Riewoldt continues to run up the ground, then whoever out of McEvoy and Kosi is not rucking should be in the forward line or presenting a lead.

[vacuous space]

Keep in mind that we won the hitouts and the clearances today. Not sure on the head to head numbers, but Jolly had 32 while Gardiner and Kosi with ten each. Blake had 14 to Brown's 5. Goddard had 5 and Hayes had three going third man up and Roo had 2.

I know somebody is going to be asking who will ruck if one of Kosi or Blake goes down. I don't think any of our other options are any more silly than theirs if Jolly went down. Brown didn't look like much of a ruckman at all today.

Also - Ross did mention Stanley as an option. Given his mobility, he might be an interesting thought to play as a ruck forward if Gardi can't go.

[SainterK]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/t ... 5929408319

[Winmar]

Doesn't sound promising for Gardi.

[bigcarl]

gardiner seems unlikely to come up so ben will probably come in with kosi sharing the rucking duties. gilbert showed a bit as a forward today, so he may spend some time there while kosi rucks.

unless they decide to go in with two dedicated rucks.

but whatever happens, ross knows best.

[Schillaci]

McEvoy will come in. We don't lose much...he's had a week's rest too which will help.

[matrix]

McEvoy will come in. We don't lose much...he's had a week's rest too which will help.

+1

[The Saintsational Man]

If Gardiner wasn't able to get back on the park in the 2nd half of a Grand Final, what makes anyone think he's going to be right to go 1 week later?

Sadly, he's done.

McEvoy comes in, simple.

[oh when]

Maybe its a Ball cramp - Luke Ball Cramp

[3rd generation saint]

They kept saying Gardiner was doing sprints up and down the sidelines, so that would indicate his hamstring is ok.
I heard that it's his elbow that got injured, anyone got any news.
But McEvoy comes in for Gardiner, if Gardiner not a 100%, and we can still use Blake and Kosi in rotation.
Jolly tired badly yesterday for them, so that may be a huge advantage with McEvoy having the week off, because Jolly is there sole ruckman and may tire even more next week.
This will mean McEvoy could run off him and be very damaging dowm forward.

[plugger66]

It is a hamstring. No way he will play next week. Ben gets his chance.

[noob]

Chance for McEvoy to show the coaching staff what he's made of!

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Considering how little Gardi did yesterday, even when he was on, this is almost certainly a plus for us.

[lefty]

You never know, he could bring in Stanley infront of Benny, or both.
The thing Stanley has, is speed.... is big mac fast enough to go with Jolly?

[sasaint]

Really think that Kosi worked pretty well in ruck, so maybe we need a fast moving full forward to replace Gardiner. In that case Ross should get out 20 footballs each for Stanley and McEvoy. Put them 50 m out in front of goal, and whoever nails the most gets the role next week. Simples!

[mad saint guy]

From the way Ross was speaking on the Sunday Footy Show it sounds like Ben will get his chance. I think Kosi and Blake proved that they are well capable of holding their own, but we need a true ruckman to give us the freedom to play a couple of talls up forward.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

"ST KILDA ruckman Michael Gardiner was a notable absentee at Sunday morning’s recovery session at Moorabbin after spending the second half of Saturday’s drawn grand final on the bench nursing an injured hamstring.
Jason Gram was confined to an exercise bike indoors, while deposed ruckman Ben McEvoy was put through a rigorous ruck training session with Steven King, Rhys Stanley and Adam Pattison.":

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx