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http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/s ... 28407.html
Saints prove a worthy bet
Steve Butler | February 16, 2008
FORMER West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner last night finally took a sound step towards his AFL revival with St Kilda, but Saints coach Ross Lyon later warned against prematurely declaring that his big man was back.
Gardiner teamed with Geelong premiership ruckman Steven King to form a formidable ruck team in a comprehensive 40-point victory over a disappointing Richmond in their opening NAB Cup match at Telstra Dome.
Gardiner moved freely after the match, his first official AFL game since round 15 for the Eagles against Sydney in 2006, and said he had got through the match unscathed after a treacherous run of knee, feet and hamstring injuries. The former All-Australian ruckman was able to do what he hasn't been able to do for the best part of the past five years … play.
Although he clearly lacked his old touch, timing and influence, some of his ruck tap work was still promising. "It was nice to see King and Gardiner play in the ruck and continue to build on their summer program, but one swallow doesn't make a summer does it?" Lyon said.
M Gardiner Watch Thread
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Part of
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/k ... 72045.html
King and Gardiner together - a tall story
Nick Sheridan | February 17, 2008
THERE was a strange air of familiarity about the St Kilda team at stoppages on Friday night at the Telstra Dome.
Fans have seen Steven King and Michael Gardiner contest the hit-outs before, but it was the first time they had seen it in tandem — and in red, white and black.
In terms of performance, King was solid and Gardiner promising, which is not altogether surprising given that King has just come off a season in which he rucked in two premiership sides — one in the VFL and then in the AFL a week later — while the injury-riddled Gardiner has played one game in two years.
King finished with the better stats, winning 16 hit-outs and gathering 11 possessions, while Gardiner won 14 taps and five possessions — one a handy link-up with Koschitzke late in the third quarter that resulted in a goal.
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http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/k ... 72045.html
King and Gardiner together - a tall story
Nick Sheridan | February 17, 2008
THERE was a strange air of familiarity about the St Kilda team at stoppages on Friday night at the Telstra Dome.
Fans have seen Steven King and Michael Gardiner contest the hit-outs before, but it was the first time they had seen it in tandem — and in red, white and black.
In terms of performance, King was solid and Gardiner promising, which is not altogether surprising given that King has just come off a season in which he rucked in two premiership sides — one in the VFL and then in the AFL a week later — while the injury-riddled Gardiner has played one game in two years.
King finished with the better stats, winning 16 hit-outs and gathering 11 possessions, while Gardiner won 14 taps and five possessions — one a handy link-up with Koschitzke late in the third quarter that resulted in a goal.
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Feb 29...and against the Dons Gardi through off some rust and played his best game yet for the Saints.
While sill short of his best part form it was a more than useful game and contribution for the Saints both in the ruck and in drifting forward.
19 Hit Outs 3 kicks 3 handballs and 1 goal...almost two as one grazed off his foot and went over the line bust the goal umpire must have thought that a Dons player got a fingertip on it.
It wasa good enough game that playing at that level would justifya spot ina H&A team. The tantalising prospect is that gardi will get better yet with more match practice.
King on the night racked up 12 hit Outs 6 kicks 11 handballs and 2 marks.
So as a ruck combination they worked well......and the saints would see to be entering 2008 with our best ruck combination since Everitt/Vidovic.
Questions remain however of both Gardi and ings durability...bit so far the signs are good.
While sill short of his best part form it was a more than useful game and contribution for the Saints both in the ruck and in drifting forward.
19 Hit Outs 3 kicks 3 handballs and 1 goal...almost two as one grazed off his foot and went over the line bust the goal umpire must have thought that a Dons player got a fingertip on it.
It wasa good enough game that playing at that level would justifya spot ina H&A team. The tantalising prospect is that gardi will get better yet with more match practice.
King on the night racked up 12 hit Outs 6 kicks 11 handballs and 2 marks.
So as a ruck combination they worked well......and the saints would see to be entering 2008 with our best ruck combination since Everitt/Vidovic.
Questions remain however of both Gardi and ings durability...bit so far the signs are good.
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Well I missed the first two games of the year as I was away...but got to watch the Swnas game last night at last.
Geeze Gardi looked very good. Very.
Promising too was that his leap seems to have returned.
The thought of Gardi getting his athleticism back, coupled with becoming fully match fit is very exciting prospect.
King too looked good. The guy just knows where to get to and when.
The thought of Gardi becoming the number one ruckman ably assisted by King to keep constant ruck pressure on is a very pleasant one.
Watching mids also often win quick clearances from the centre was good too.
The "hope" that I had when I started this string, now very much looks like becoming a reality.
Geeze Gardi looked very good. Very.
Promising too was that his leap seems to have returned.
The thought of Gardi getting his athleticism back, coupled with becoming fully match fit is very exciting prospect.
King too looked good. The guy just knows where to get to and when.
The thought of Gardi becoming the number one ruckman ably assisted by King to keep constant ruck pressure on is a very pleasant one.
Watching mids also often win quick clearances from the centre was good too.
The "hope" that I had when I started this string, now very much looks like becoming a reality.
Last edited by saintsRrising on Wed 02 Apr 2008 3:17pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I will watch it tonight as I have BigPond cable access and so can watch the game anytime....Russman wrote:
I think you'll be just as impressed with the ruck duo if you get to watch a replay of the StKilda-Carlton game.
The quality of the Swans game was better than last years downloads that I watched.
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The inclusion of Gardy (and King) has shown just how important a strong ruck division is to a side.
Gardiner's skills on the ground are unbelievable for a guy his size. He often roves his own ball with such clean skills its hard to beleive he is a ruckman and not a midfielder.
if he can stay fit, he's only gonna get better and could be the difference for us this year!
Gardiner's skills on the ground are unbelievable for a guy his size. He often roves his own ball with such clean skills its hard to beleive he is a ruckman and not a midfielder.
if he can stay fit, he's only gonna get better and could be the difference for us this year!
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Well a bit of time has past...and Gardi had an injury riddled season in 2008.
However his pre-season games so far in 2009 have been excellent.
So much so that a number of forimites are even picking him in their "Round One Teams:....
It will be interesting to see the big fella goes in 2009.
With McEvoy still looking a long waay off and Kosi best suited to follower and key forward roles we really need both King and Gardiner to play well in 2009 (though not necesailly in the same team at the same time).
However his pre-season games so far in 2009 have been excellent.
So much so that a number of forimites are even picking him in their "Round One Teams:....
It will be interesting to see the big fella goes in 2009.
With McEvoy still looking a long waay off and Kosi best suited to follower and key forward roles we really need both King and Gardiner to play well in 2009 (though not necesailly in the same team at the same time).
Last edited by saintsRrising on Wed 11 Mar 2009 11:43pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Just because someone plays fooball does not mean that they are not carrying injuries. In Gardi's case his feet amongst other things.BigMart wrote:Injury Riddled.....didn't Gardner only miss two games in 2008???
He played 9 in the AFL and 10 in the VFL.....
Yes while he did rack up a number of games he was often playing restricted IMO.
Ball has played a lot of football the last few seasons , but I would describe them as injury riddled too. A fully fit Ball in 2009 will make a big difference.
A fully fit Gardi in 2009 could make a big difference.
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saintsRrising wrote:Just because someone plays fooball does not mean that they are not carrying injuries. In Gardi's case his feet amongst other things.BigMart wrote:Injury Riddled.....didn't Gardner only miss two games in 2008???
He played 9 in the AFL and 10 in the VFL.....
Yes while he did rack up a number of games he was often playing restricted IMO.
Ball has played a lot of football the last few seasons , but I would describe them as injury riddled too. A fully fit Ball in 2009 will make a big difference.
A fully fit Gardi in 2009 could make a big difference.
Yes it would, but he has not been fully fit for about 5 or 6 years and he is getting older...
There is little or no hope he will ever get to the stage he was at after 6 years, his body is older and at best a back up....
King was the best thing that came to us as a ruck option and Gardiner IMO was a waste of a draft pick
Don't wait for the light at the end of the tunnel to appear, run down there and light the bloody thing yourself!
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Re: M Gardiner Watch Thread
Well the cream has now arrived, and with an extra dallop at that!!! :winksaintsRrising wrote:
Now I personally rate good ruckmen highly and believe that they can make a huge positive difference to a team. King is very fit at present and looks capable of playing many good games for us in 2008. If Gardi could play as well that would be for me a huge dose of cream and having Gardi and King play would more than make up for losing the GTrain...and I rate the GTrain!!!
A FIT M Gardiner of all the current variables that we know about, is to me the one that can now have the biggest impact on 2008 (I am taking King and Schneider as first 22 players as a given.....along with Misson and the AIS guys reducing our soft tissue injury rate to at least AFL average or thereabouts...).
Gardi has now basically won us two game this year.
Against the Cats he was vital and we most likely would not have won without him.
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