They say every cloud has a silver lining, and that’s certainly the case for West Coast Eagles ruckman Michael Gardiner this weekend.
Gardiner, who has missed much of the pre-season with a hamstring strain, has been ruled out of this weekend’s opening round.
But with the temperature expected to top 40 degrees in the next couple of days, the less-than-perfect condition of his ‘string’ has saved him from playing in the heat.
Gardiner denied checking the forecast before testing the hamstring.
“No, I didn’t. The hamstring just wasn’t quite a hundred percent this week. It will be next week, so I’m looking forward to playing round one,” he said with a laugh before training at Subiaco Oval in a balmy 34 degrees.
Playing next week with no pre-season games under his belt would be a new thing to deal with, the 199cm ruckman/forward conceded.
“It represents a new challenge for me. Normally I’m pretty fit this time of the year, but I‘m looking forward to it and it’ll be a hundred percent.
“I’ve still been able to do plenty of work, plenty of fitness work, it’s just my match fitness where I’m going to struggle, but as I said, I’m looking forward to it.”
Gardiner, who missed four weeks late last season with a knee injury, conceded the enforced break had probably been a good thing in the longer term.
“Definitely. I’m mentally and physically as fresh as I’ve ever been going into a season, so hopefully, that’s going to be a positive, and we’ll tell later on in the year.”
On his return at the end of the season, Gardiner slotted into the team at centre-half-forward for round 22 and the elimination final, kicking five goals in the two games, and said he had confidence in the ruck duo which has carried West Coast through the preseason.
“(Mark) Seaby and (Dean) Cox have both done a good job in the preseason in the ruck, and I think they’ll shoulder a bit of the responsibility in the first half of the year – well, for the whole year.”
does this mean Gardiner is out fro round 1?
if so who cox will have to shoulder the ruck but we'll be down a quality CHF, I spose Seaby will play, i personally don't think his quite ready for AFL, could be wrong though
Gardiner, who has missed much of the pre-season with a hamstring strain, has been ruled out of this weekend’s opening round.
But with the temperature expected to top 40 degrees in the next couple of days, the less-than-perfect condition of his ‘string’ has saved him from playing in the heat.
Gardiner denied checking the forecast before testing the hamstring.
“No, I didn’t. The hamstring just wasn’t quite a hundred percent this week. It will be next week, so I’m looking forward to playing round one,” he said with a laugh before training at Subiaco Oval in a balmy 34 degrees.
Playing next week with no pre-season games under his belt would be a new thing to deal with, the 199cm ruckman/forward conceded.
“It represents a new challenge for me. Normally I’m pretty fit this time of the year, but I‘m looking forward to it and it’ll be a hundred percent.
“I’ve still been able to do plenty of work, plenty of fitness work, it’s just my match fitness where I’m going to struggle, but as I said, I’m looking forward to it.”
Gardiner, who missed four weeks late last season with a knee injury, conceded the enforced break had probably been a good thing in the longer term.
“Definitely. I’m mentally and physically as fresh as I’ve ever been going into a season, so hopefully, that’s going to be a positive, and we’ll tell later on in the year.”
On his return at the end of the season, Gardiner slotted into the team at centre-half-forward for round 22 and the elimination final, kicking five goals in the two games, and said he had confidence in the ruck duo which has carried West Coast through the preseason.
“(Mark) Seaby and (Dean) Cox have both done a good job in the preseason in the ruck, and I think they’ll shoulder a bit of the responsibility in the first half of the year – well, for the whole year.”
does this mean Gardiner is out fro round 1?
if so who cox will have to shoulder the ruck but we'll be down a quality CHF, I spose Seaby will play, i personally don't think his quite ready for AFL, could be wrong though
