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View Full Version : Constantly bad Gardiner turns new leaf

sproulie
20 Apr 2006, 22:45
AFL: Gardiner allowed to resume West Coast career AFL Eagles Gardiner
By Tim Clarke
PERTH, April 20 AAP - Having served his time in enforced isolation, West Coast bad boy Michael Gardiner will be welcomed back into the Eagles' fold tomorrow, and will be available for AFL selection by the end of the month.
As the Eagles' troubled off-season becomes a distant memory, following an unbeaten start to the home and away season, the future of the wayward Gardiner remained the only dark spot on the club's horizon.
The talented tall was banished to the WAFL by the Eagles in February for disciplinary and attitude issues.
But after coach John Worsfold last week said the club was ready to welcome back Gardiner when he felt he was ready to return, the two parties met today, and Gardiner will officially be part of the Eagles again on Friday,
A club spokesman said tonight once Gardiner had served the remainder of a suspension picked up while playing for his WAFL club Claremont, he would be back in the reckoning at AFL level.
And Worsfold said in a statement Gardiner was ready to resume his AFL career, and the Eagles were willing to have him back.
``Michael Gardiner has met with me and made some strong commitments to the team, the club and to himself,'' Worsfold said.
``I believe he is in the right frame of mind to help our club strive towards our vision.''
Gardiner's AFL future was thrown into serious doubt in February, when the former All-Australian was sent back to his WAFL club Claremont indefinitely, after reportedly going out drinking the night before an intra-club match.
The club said Gardiner could only return once he had ``addressed his professionalism''.
The ultimatum followed Gardiner, 26, being stripped of the West Coast vice-captaincy during the off-season, having received earlier criticism for off-field activities and associates.
Initial good reports of Gardiner's attitude at Claremont were sullied by a slight hamstring strain and then a two-game suspension for striking.
West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich said tonight Gardiner remained an important member of the Eagles' roster.
``I think he can (get back),'' Sumich told the Nine Network.
``I think he is an important player, he is on our squad and deserves a chance to get back in the team if he performs well at Claremont and warrants coming back in.''
Gardiner has been beset with injury problems since being chosen as an All-Australian ruckman in 2003.
An experimental move into the forward line to protect his injured knees failed to kick-start his career, going goalless in last season's AFL grand final loss to Sydney.
He managed 13 goals in nine games in 2005.
sedders
21 Apr 2006, 00:15
needs to prove himself and be tested mentally before given a chance
Eagles 4 Mine
21 Apr 2006, 12:57
Boy oh boy if Gardiner comes back to the team watch out competition we will have the two best bigman in the AFL , we have seen what Gardy is capable of let's see it now Gardy.:)
94_Eagles
21 Apr 2006, 13:55
Boy oh boy if Gardiner comes back to the team watch out competition we will have the two best bigman in the AFL , we have seen what Gardy is capable of let's see it now Gardy.:)

Gardiner is not the second best ruckman anymore.
Black Thunder
21 Apr 2006, 14:32
well hopefully he has turned his thinking around in regards to the way he wants to remembered.

With a top performing Gardiner in the team the Eagles will only be stronger.
Milenko
22 Apr 2006, 00:14
Gardiner is not the second best ruckman anymore.

Geez i'm not sure about that. Seaby has not set the world on fire IMO.
Eagles 4 Mine
22 Apr 2006, 08:10
Gardiner is not the second best ruckman anymore.

I'm not saying he is the second best Ruckman but if he comes back and plays to his potential there is no doubt that we will have the best two Ruckman in the league and we will do a lot of damage IMO.
Eagles 4 Mine
22 Apr 2006, 08:16
Geez i'm not sure about that. Seaby has not set the world on fire IMO.

I totally agree with you on Seaby he has done nothing to cement his spot over Gardiner.
If Gardiner can come back and ruck for us as good as we know he can that will put Seaby out of the team IMO.
mikben
22 Apr 2006, 11:19
Boy oh boy if Gardiner comes back to the team watch out competition we will have the two best bigman in the AFL , we have seen what Gardy is capable of let's see it now Gardy.:)

Good to see that you are stilling talking CRAP Kinny.......
Sladest
22 Apr 2006, 12:31
I've read the same story for the past 3 years.

Let's face it, we stuffed up not trading him either last year or the year before.

He definately would have been worth the Key Position forward we need.

If he is to play again this year, I see him as a back up ruckman, Seaby, for me would be a much better option up forward.
Magnum27
22 Apr 2006, 12:33
Personally if Gardy can't ruck i don't think he is of any use to use us, sure he can take a mark but due to his knees being stuffed if the ball hits the deck he has no recovery. Hopefully he can prove me wrong because a fully firing Gardiner would be a wonderfull thing.
Eagles 4 Mine
22 Apr 2006, 18:54
Good to see that you are stilling talking CRAP Kinny.......

You are a absolute fool buddy I will leave it at just a reminder it's a FORUM.:confused:
Eagles 4 Mine
22 Apr 2006, 18:57
Personally if Gardy can't ruck i don't think he is of any use to use us, sure he can take a mark but due to his knees being stuffed if the ball hits the deck he has no recovery. Hopefully he can prove me wrong because a fully firing Gardiner would be a wonderfull thing.

Beware Magnum Mikben might think that your talking crap.:rolleyes:
TheReason
22 Apr 2006, 19:39
Let's face it, we stuffed up not trading him (Gardiner) either last year or the year before.

He definately would have been worth the Key Position forward we need.

If he is to play again this year, I see him as a back up ruckman, Seaby, for me would be a much better option up forward.
We tried to trade Gardiner at the end of last year and were offered a 3rd round draft pick from Collingwood.:eek:

The fact of the matter is, whilst he's been injured over the last few years, he's worth nothing.

On the Seaby vs Gardiner issue.

Seaby - Brilliant tap ruckman but ATM, does very little else around the ground or up forward. I'm not bagging him, but for him to advance, he would need to go to another club or Cox would have to get injured. Again, I rate him highly and I hope we don't trade him. The only reason he'd become trade bait is if Gardiner recaptured his form this year and next year.

Gardiner - Here's the conundrum. Whilst injured and off field shenigans have ensued, he's worth nothing for trade value. If (yes a Big IF), if he was to recapture his previous form, then we wouldn't trade him as he'd be too valuable.

My God, could you imagine Cox and Gardiner (from 03) rotating and alternating between the Ruck and Forward Pocket?
Gunnar Longshanks
22 Apr 2006, 19:49
Let's face it, we stuffed up not trading him either last year or the year before.

He definately would have been worth the Key Position forward we need.Bollocks.

We would have got hardly anything for Gardiner.

He's played how many games in the last two seasons?

I'm sure teams would have been lining up to part with a key forward for a wayward, injury-prone ruckman with no recent form.
TheReason
22 Apr 2006, 20:02
I'm sure teams would have been lining up to part with a key forward for a wayward, injury-prone ruckman with no recent form.
Especially after his performance on national display via the GF, when he was hobbling on one foot.
Black JuJu
22 Apr 2006, 20:23
My God, could you imagine Cox and Gardiner (from 03) rotating and alternating between the Ruck and Forward Pocket?

Sounds like a crazy pipe dream these days but it would be something if it came off. He's no leading forward but anyone who doesn't rate what Gardiner could do around the ground when he was fit and firing has a short memory.
Tyberious Funk
23 Apr 2006, 08:56
I totally agree with you on Seaby he has done nothing to cement his spot over Gardiner.


Except keep his nose clean.

Gardiner == trade bait
Sladest
23 Apr 2006, 12:55
Bollocks.

We would have got hardly anything for Gardiner.

He's played how many games in the last two seasons?

I'm sure teams would have been lining up to part with a key forward for a wayward, injury-prone ruckman with no recent form.

What would we get for him now?

A 3rd round pick last year would have been a good deal.