Gardiner almost certain to join us

[Eddie19]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20378018-2722,00.html
whats your thoughts i reckon will be a good pick up for free

 

[Kaitsey]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20378018-2722,00.html
whats your thoughts i reckon will be a good pick up for free

if thats the road your gonna take... we'll trade him somewhere else for pick 70 just to annoy carlton.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

if thats the road your gonna take... we'll trade him somewhere else for pick 70 just to annoy carlton.

If thats the road you're going to take ... we'll just tell him to refuse your proposed trades and wait untill the PSD.

Just to annoy the Eagles.

 

[Kaitsey]

If thats the road you're going to take ... we'll just tell him to refuse your proposed trades and wait untill the PSD.

Just to annoy the Eagles.

i dont think you'll be the ONLY team interested in him. i dont think some other teams in need of a ruckman could refuse gardy for a late pick.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

i dont think you'll be the ONLY team interested in him. i dont think some other teams in need of a ruckman could refuse gardy for a late pick.

You'll be suprised in how much interest you'll attract for a ruckman whos:

• A bad seed
• Injury Prone
• Best footy is behind him

But all that aside, we'll take him

 

[SA Blue]

i dont think you'll be the ONLY team interested in him. i dont think some other teams in need of a ruckman could refuse gardy for a late pick.

But he could refuse them. That is the point.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

if thats the road your gonna take... we'll trade him somewhere else for pick 70 just to annoy carlton.

He's out of contract isn't he? He can simply walk away. Not sure how loyal he will feel towards the Eagles after they basically sacked him for his transgressions. Not saying the Eagles were wrong, they weren't. But has Gardiner done anything to suggest he will do the right thing by the club now?

It's like Brisbane getting rid of Keating, Pask and co prior to trade week. The players are unlikely to hang around waiting for a trade now, they'll be heading straight for the PSD.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Yep, Gardiner just has to wait for his contract to run out (sometime in between trade week and the PSD) and we can pick him up in the PSD for squat if we want him. Personally I'd take Keating, but there ya go.

 

[RiCHii]

starting to get the feeling i would just rather bryan in the ruck , well its going to happen because Gardiner (if we pick him up) will either be injured or wont be getting a game , but if we get him good luck to us

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

We shouldn't be making deals with Gardiner now however. If there is something better in the PSD, we should take it and just let Bryan and McLaren ruck next year. Gardiner is a calculated risk because he has experience and has been a star ruckman at one stage. Word from WA is that he has done a lot of rucking this year and has been pretty good. We have to be prepared for him not making it, either physically or mentally, but as long as we haven't passed over another good prospect we can live with it.

If Gardiner does turn it all around and is physically ready, we can get another 4 or 5 years out of him and that could be fantastic waiting for Aisake to come through and take over.

 

[Smell The Glove]

The key thing to remember with Gardiner is that, despite his obvious downsides, the upside to him is massive. He is a star ruckman at best, and still quite young- at an age when most ruckmen are in their prime. He could realistically ruck for another five years if he gets his attitude right, and I dont believe his knees are anywhere near shot, despite what some people believe. You take a gamble- you might get someone who plays six games and gets delisted/retires after a season or two, or you could get a 100+ game player who holds down the ruck for another five years. It's all up to Pagan and Gardiner.

And another thing- a lot of people here have been questioning his attitude. FFS dont you think Pagan and co. are going to thouroughly test that out before they draft him?? No-one drafts anyone sight unseen. If there is any hint that he isnt prepared to give 100% I doubt we would even bother drafting him in the first place.

 

[av76]

We shouldn't be making deals with Gardiner now however. If there is something better in the PSD, we should take it and just let Bryan and McLaren ruck next year. Gardiner is a calculated risk because he has experience and has been a star ruckman at one stage. Word from WA is that he has done a lot of rucking this year and has been pretty good. We have to be prepared for him not making it, either physically or mentally, but as long as we haven't passed over another good prospect we can live with it.

If Gardiner does turn it all around and is physically ready, we can get another 4 or 5 years out of him and that could be fantastic waiting for Aisake to come through and take over.

Wouldn't we be better trading a 4th round draft pick for him ? West Cost would basically get another pick straight after their 3rd round pick so might be keen. That way we can recruit any other talent available in the PSD. Also, do we have to sign him to a minimum two year contract either way?

 

[Effes]

He is a star ruckman at best, and still quite young- at an age when most ruckmen are in their prime.

He hasn't been a star ruckman for 3 years. Since his injuries he has not played one good game in the seniors

 

[Effes]

And another thing- a lot of people here have been questioning his attitude. FFS dont you think Pagan and co. are going to thouroughly test that out before they draft him?? No-one drafts anyone sight unseen. If there is any hint that he isnt prepared to give 100% I doubt we would even bother drafting him in the first place.

Didn't stop us from drafting Cameron Croad, Laurence Angwin and Karl Norman

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Not sure about how long we have to contract Gardiner for. I'm dubious about whether there will be anything else on offer in the PSD so am not sure about giving up a fourth round pick. That's pick 51 and could hold some value in this draft.

Maybe we pick Keating and Gardiner on the assumption one of them will be available at least.

 

[blitzer]

I doubt eagles will be able to get much for Gardiner given not only his past history of offfield behaviour and injuries but also the fact that Everitt is going to be available for trade this year. Then factor in the young ruckman coming through the draft most notably Leuenberger. Of all the clubs it seems that Carlton and St Kilda have the most pressing needs for ruckman with perhaps a couple of others that wouldn't mind getting a youngster for the future. Plus carlton are holding all the cards with the #1 psd pick unless of course they desire to pick someone else up and then they could offer a low pick to eagles and still use their psd pick. (Possibly best scenario for eagles).

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Didn't stop us from drafting Cameron Croad, Laurence Angwin and Karl Norman

Cameron Croad was ranked to go at #41 by Burgratron's phantom draft in 2002 and there were no whispers of any attitude problems or off field issues. Norman was a raw KPP from the country we took a punt on due to not having any decent draft picks. No murmurings of attitude there either.

Angwin was the only calculated risk. As a former top 10 pick he had the talent but had been in trouble. We took the punt but not completely, he was only taken with a rookie pick.

We can't look at these things in hindsight and point to them as a failing. Angwin was the only tarnished player out of all these and we gave up nothing for him.

 

[Silvagnis]

Cameron Croad was ranked to go at #41 by Burgratron's phantom draft in 2002 and there were no whispers of any attitude problems or off field issues. Norman was a raw KPP from the country we took a punt on due to not having any decent draft picks. No murmurings of attitude there either.

Angwin was the only calculated risk. As a former top 10 pick he had the talent but had been in trouble. We took the punt but not completely, he was only taken with a rookie pick.

We can't look at these things in hindsight and point to them as a failing. Angwin was the only tarnished player out of all these and we gave up nothing for him.

I recall GOALdenhawk commenting on here or HHQ that he was surprised that we drafted Croad, so I think there were question marks over both Croad and Norman.

Gardiner is finished just like Allan and he will be lucky to have one good season like Matt had at the Bombers before his body gave up.

What's happened since Pagan stated youth was the way forward?

Pagan is trying to save his own skin by getting us off the bottom and he's putting our young impressionable players at risk by getting a character like Gardiner.

Enoughs a enough.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Didn't stop us from drafting Cameron Croad, Laurence Angwin and Karl Norman

How can you compare kids to Gardiner? Kids are always unpredictable- you never know if they will make it or not, and no real way of measuring. Gardiner has already made it, and has proved himself at the highest level. Big difference between a mature player and kids with whom it is it is impossible to know if they will make just because they are kids.

 

[Smell The Glove]

He hasn't been a star ruckman for 3 years. Since his injuries he has not played one good game in the seniors

Never said he wasnt a risk. Thats his attitude, and if he gets that right, he could be a star again IMHO.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Didn't stop us from drafting Cameron Croad, Laurence Angwin and Karl Norman

Oh, and didnt stop Brisbane from drafting Martin Pike, or Sydney drafting Barry Hall, or Pagan keeping Brendan Fevola.

 

[Effes]

He hasn't proved himself in recent times

He was good in 2003 - since then he has been garbage.

For those that want us to get Gardiner;

Have you seen him play this year, or in recent times?

I can't fathom why anyone would want to bring someone who is obviously not up to it anymore to the club.

 

[Effes]

Oh, and didnt stop Brisbane from drafting Martin Pike, or Sydney drafting Barry Hall, or Pagan keeping Brendan Fevola.

They didn't have bung knees did they?

They still showed potential in the YEAR before they were traded/turned their form around

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME GARDINER PERFORMED WELL?

 

[Effes]

Never said he wasnt a risk. Thats his attitude, and if he gets that right, he could be a star again IMHO.

Why do we want to take that risk on someone with a dodgy attitude AND bung knees?

I don't think many of you wanting Gardiner at the club have seen him play in RECENT years

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I recall GOALdenhawk commenting on here or HHQ that he was surprised that we drafted Croad, so I think there were question marks over both Croad and Norman.

Confused here mate. HHQ said that they were surprised we got Croad and that raises question marks over he and Norman's worth? Did it point to attitude issues because quite clearly this is where both of these guys fell down?

Sorry, but I am sceptical on this point because I certainly didn't read any of it at the time and don't want to fall victim to any revision of history. What exactly were the issues stated with Croad and Norman prior to us drafting them and in what general direction can I look for them?