Michael Gardiner - where's he at?

Moods · Post: # 1035649Post **Moods** » Fri 28 Jan 2011 11:19pm

Reading the article in the HS where Lenny makes mention of the fact that McEvoy will get plenty of games early next year as MG is struggling with a knee injury really made me wonder. Why the hell did we sign MG on for another year? Don't get me wrong I have loved the big blokes endeavour and commitment since joining our club, but he is past 30 and was struggling with injury prior to signing him on. He had a chronic knee which doesn't seem to have got any better, and I doubt he'll be much use to us without a pre-season under his belt.

Can anyone update me on him?

st_Trav_ofWA · Sat 29 Jan 2011 10:33am

Moods wrote:Reading the article in the HS where Lenny makes mention of the fact that McEvoy will get plenty of games early next year as MG is struggling with a knee injury really made me wonder. Why the hell did we sign MG on for another year? Don't get me wrong I have loved the big blokes endeavour and commitment since joining our club, but he is past 30 and was struggling with injury prior to signing him on. He had a chronic knee which doesn't seem to have got any better, and I doubt he'll be much use to us without a pre-season under his belt.

Can anyone update me on him?

hes recovering from preseason surgery on his knee ... he has had stemcells inserted to regrow cartliage in the knee ..... from all reports is taking its time but getting better and he should be back playing for the saints befor too long

Sobraz · Post: # 1035679Post **Sobraz** » Sat 29 Jan 2011 12:20pm

By the end of this coming season, BigMac should well and truely be cemented as our no.1 ruck, with hopefully Stanely showing development also...

However, there will be times in the season that Gardi will be needed, either as first ruck or backup...

It is a long season, particularly for the big guys, and Mac is still only young and will tire.. Gards has shown he can be a match winner, moreso than most players on our list... He was solid in '10 with the occasional great match balanced out by a few howlers...

Less reliance on him as our primary ruck may make it easier for Gards to get through in good health to the business end of the season, something he hasnt managed to do in recent finals campaigns...

He has not shown signs that the game had gone past him, like King did for 2 seasons, so Im more than happy that he's going around again...

St Lenny · Post: # 1035719Post **St Lenny** » Sat 29 Jan 2011 6:27pm

We havn't had alot of luck with ruckman and premiership teams.

SydneySainter · Sun 30 Jan 2011 11:59am

Gardy is a very important player for us when fit. While the best of his tap-work are past him, his experience in the ruck contests and his mobility are invaluable.

In 2009 match fitness became a problem for him leading into the finals campaign, whereas 2010 he was hitting his straps at the right time and was great in the first two finals, but then his hamstring gave way early in the big dance.

I hope we can get one more year out of him. If we can get him fit at the right time of the year and his body can hold out, like Geelong with Ottens, can make a big difference for us.

Con Gorozidis · Mon 31 Jan 2011 9:30am

Moods wrote:Reading the article in the HS where Lenny makes mention of the fact that McEvoy will get plenty of games early next year as MG is struggling with a knee injury really made me wonder. Why the hell did we sign MG on for another year? Don't get me wrong I have loved the big blokes endeavour and commitment since joining our club, but he is past 30 and was struggling with injury prior to signing him on. He had a chronic knee which doesn't seem to have got any better, and I doubt he'll be much use to us without a pre-season under his belt.

Can anyone update me on him?

i was surprised. just as i was surprised we signed king on for 2010.

Realistically no-one should expect more than 10 games from MG for 2011. Hopefully 8 h & away and 2 finals.

We should manage him very conservatively. Hes been a fantastic addition to the saints since we got him. I cant be happier with what hes contributed.

But 10 games total. If we cant win without him, we are no good anyhow. So a lot rests on Big Mac for 2011 lets be honest. It also means Kosi as a 2nd ruck as an almost certainty.

spert · Post: # 1035835Post **spert** » Mon 31 Jan 2011 9:45am

I hope MG contributes this season, but we really need to go with youth. We really can't afford to go into finals with key players carrying injuries, and the older some players get, the harder is to to recover.

InkerSaint · Mon 31 Jan 2011 9:47am

It also means Kosi as a 2nd ruck as an almost certainty

And therein lies another problem, what kind of shape is Kosi's ankle in?

We may just as surely be looking at Stanley as a 2nd ruck. Or some of our other talls such as Gilbert had better start learning to pinch ruck.

Interesting times ahead.

SainterK · Post: # 1035842Post **SainterK** » Mon 31 Jan 2011 10:26am

Well we have Ben

If Gardi can't we have Kosi

If Kosi can't we have Rhys

If Rhys can't we have Blake

If Blake can't we have....

Tommy Walsh?

Con Gorozidis · Mon 31 Jan 2011 10:33am

SainterK wrote:Well we have Ben

If Gardi can't we have Kosi

If Kosi can't we have Rhys

If Rhys can't we have Blake

If Blake can't we have....

Tommy Walsh?

very surprised we didnt keep patto or use a pre-season draft on a robbie campbell or a slightly older guy.

our only height on the rookie list is tommy walsh... and ive read here some people reckon hes not quite 195 cm listed.

saintbrat · Mon 31 Jan 2011 10:36am

SainterK wrote:If Rhys can't we have Blake

No Blake - kept Steven instead--
But Steven decided not for him

SainterK · Post: # 1035846Post **SainterK** » Mon 31 Jan 2011 10:38am

Oh I meant Jason....

saintbrat · Mon 31 Jan 2011 10:50am

SainterK wrote:Oh I meant Jason....

ahhh- well he's done it before...

super dooper · Mon 31 Jan 2011 11:24am

I'm just praying for a Clark Keating/ Ottens like performance in September...

plugger66 · Post: # 1035879Post **plugger66** » Mon 31 Jan 2011 3:25pm

super dooper wrote:I'm just praying for a Clark Keating/ Ottens like performance in September...

They always performed on the big day. MG is nil and 3. Doubt whether that will change at his age. Our best hope is Ben coming on not MG getting better.

St Ick · Post: # 1035887Post **St Ick** » Mon 31 Jan 2011 3:55pm

plugger66 wrote:
super dooper wrote:I'm just praying for a Clark Keating/ Ottens like performance in September...
They always performed on the big day. MG is nil and 3. Doubt whether that will change at his age. Our best hope is Ben coming on not MG getting better.

Its the most likely scenario, big blokes with injuries and age isn't a good mix. However, he has suprised us before and I doubt he would stay on if he didn't believe he couldn't come back.

I'm a firm believer that Ben will develop into one of the premier ruckmen in the comp, just didn't expect him to have to do it next year. Can see this area as a weakness if Ben, Rhys and Kozi fail to step it up, then again, Lenny, Dal, BJ etc are pretty skilled at reading the opposition ruckman anyway from their time with some of our past players in GT's era(Ackland/Knobel/Rix etc)!

saintbrat · Wed 02 Feb 2011 11:48pm

Gardi is In sweden
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/g ... 5999052387

Gardiner emerged from surgery on Monday and immediately phoned St Kilda coach Ross Lyon with positive news about his hopes of having an impact this season.

The 31-year-old will remain in Stockholm for several days in rehabilitation before rejoining the club's pre-season campaign.

"I spoke to him when he was in the cab on the way home from the surgery and it went well," Lyon told the Herald Sun last night.

"He's really confident. The surgeon has been able to get players back within three weeks. People have been writing him off, but he is really upbeat."

Moccha · Post: # 1037037Post **Moccha** » Thu 03 Feb 2011 8:15am

Ahh Sveden!

Con Gorozidis · Thu 03 Feb 2011 10:55am

great news! big gardi in stockholm! might give him a whole new lease on life.

Michael Gardiner - where's he at?

Michael Gardiner - where's he at?

Re: Michael Gardiner - where's he at?

Re: Michael Gardiner - where's he at?