Gardiner to full forward

[vicco]

Would like to see Kosi and Gardiner swap roles at times throughout a game. Can take a grab and would be hard to match up on for the opposition. It would free up Kosi to get in the game and could be a great move come finals.

 

[DanACTsaint]

Would love to see Kosi and Gardi swap roles but unfortunately it aint gonna happen. Ross would have already done it by now.

 

[goodie23]

Gardiner at full forward is one of the reasons Wet Toast lost a grand final. He can pinch hit, but he's not a permanent forward

 

[Squizz]

Yup - think he'd only go there to exploit a match up or for a 5 min burst.

The AFL defenders these days seem to have the size, strength and pace (albeit alot of them still can't kick) which could make Gardi at FF as much a liability as a potential win.

Gardi's got good mid-range running capacity (in running 20-40m) but really isn't very quick off the mark.

And I make these comments despite having man-love for the bloke.

 

[mysainters]

Has nobody else noticed that he has been resting on the bench a lot more in recent weeks rather than resting forward, I think they are conserving him given he burnt out a little last year....he will pop up forward again for sure, just book it in week one of the finals.

 

[dg102]

and Gilbert, Goddard, Gram to permanant midfield.

With Gilbert, Goddard, Hayes and Jones in the midfield I think that will fix our contested possesions problem.

Plus Gilbert is so versatile, he'll get so much ball if he plays centre.

Blake, Dempster, Fisher, Gwilt, Dal/Gram all playing in defence.

 

[hayes]

and Gilbert, Goddard, Gram to permanant midfield.

With Gilbert, Goddard, Hayes and Jones in the midfield I think that will fix our contested possesions problem.

Plus Gilbert is so versatile, he'll get so much ball if he plays centre.

Blake, Dempster, Fisher, Gwilt, Dal/Gram all playing in defence.

Pretty hard to play defense when you're playing permanent midfield.

I like Gram in the midfield because when he's up and going and not bombing it with every kick he actually uses it well and kicks goals.

 

[StFly]

McEvoy/Pattison/Stanley to forward and Kosi to ruck would be the most beneficial solution, Macca is a better leading mark while Patto & Stanley do actually go well on the ground for tall blokes which is an issue with Kosi.

Miles / Alias to fill for Baker to then release Gilbert on a wing and reserve for a small forward game (like Collingwood for instance). Allows for Dempster, Geary, Alias and Miles to then also act as rebound with Fisher & Gwilt.

Of course, won't happen.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Has nobody else noticed that he has been resting on the bench a lot more in recent weeks rather than resting forward, I think they are conserving him given he burnt out a little last year....he will pop up forward again for sure, just book it in week one of the finals.

Good pickup. Others are being rested for whole games but we can't really afford to do that with Gardiner ( though in hindsight it would have made no difference against Pies or Bombers ). He may well be being rested in a more subtle manner.

 

[Simon Templar]

Yup - think he'd only go there to exploit a match up or for a 5 min burst.

The AFL defenders these days seem to have the size, strength and pace (albeit alot of them still can't kick) which could make Gardi at FF as much a liability as a potential win.

Gardi's got good mid-range running capacity (in running 20-40m) but really isn't very quick off the mark.

And I make these comments despite having man-love for the bloke.

Yeah agreed, he would have a limited function at FF but I do seem to remember him taking an important mark or two near the goal square & kicking valuable goals.

 

[Squizz]

Yeah agreed, he would have a limited function at FF but I do seem to remember him taking an important mark or two near the goal square & kicking valuable goals.

As a ruckman drifting forward i.e. effectively does not have a direct opponent in the contest.

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

I can't see him being played as a starting FF

He'll continue (return to?) being the drift forward, or come off the bench and go forward, when not rucking

Under that scenario I can see him swap for Kosi at times, if Macca is still on the bench (and I don't mean CHBench )

Seems to be the thing to say at the moment, that ruckmen make notoriously bad defenders when their opposite number goes forward. But an established backman would towel him up imo

Speaking of ruckmen, what of Kingy? On the injury list, says minor hamstring strain. Not sure how long he's been listed as that though

 

[mysainters]

Good pickup. Others are being rested for whole games but we can't really afford to do that with Gardiner ( though in hindsight it would have made no difference against Pies or Bombers ). He may well be being rested in a more subtle manner.

It's important he is in good form come September, he certainly keeps defenders accountable when he meanders up forward.

As for Kingy, I remember reading he did a hamstring recently, but was playing at Sandy prior to that?

 

[Squizz]

Aug 2:

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/box-hill-closes-in-on-topfour-spot-20100801-111e7.html

St Kilda ruckman Steven King is still at least a fortnight away from resuming via the VFL after suffering a minor hamstring strain and ankle injury while playing for Sandringham two weeks ago.

King has played only six AFL matches this season, the last in round seven.

Since then, the 31-year-old has battled a hamstring strain and knee injury. He had played four matches in the VFL before re-straining his hamstring.

 

[Plugger35]

I can't see him being played as a starting FF

He'll continue (return to?) being the drift forward, or come off the bench and go forward, when not rucking

Under that scenario I can see him swap for Kosi at times, if Macca is still on the bench (and I don't mean CHBench )

Seems to be the thing to say at the moment, that ruckmen make notoriously bad defenders when their opposite number goes forward. But an established backman would towel him up imo

Speaking of ruckmen, what of Kingy? On the injury list, says minor hamstring strain. Not sure how long he's been listed as that though

Yeah Gardiner shouldn't be played as a permanent full forward, he is just too slow and cumbersome for that role, even moreso than Kosi. Gardiner is better as a ruckman pushing forward. Could maybe swap him occasionally with Kosi to mix things up a bit but it would be more 70-80% ruck and 20-30% forward and vice versa for Kosi.

 

[IllBeTheJudge]

Re-reading the OP, I think we all agree with him

Nowhere is it stated that Gardi should be the main FF, or starting FF, merely that he and Kosi should swap roles every now and then

They kinda do this now (maybe not in the last couple of weeks) but maybe the difference is where Kosi is positioned when Gardiner does move forward ... which should either be in the ruck or on the bench (and I don't mean CHBe ... never mind). I don't get to enough live games to know what was happening earlier in the season (ie. where Kosi was when Gardi was forward)

 

[krusden]

Has nobody else noticed that he has been resting on the bench a lot more in recent weeks rather than resting forward, I think they are conserving him given he burnt out a little last year....he will pop up forward again for sure, just book it in week one of the finals.

gardi is also taking a bigger role this year with mcevoy learning so i am thinking thats why he is buggered!
however gardi does like the forward line so we may see a late season/finals strategy to confound people- kosi on the bench, macca in ruck, f/f gardi.