Playfair V Gardiner (Charlie)

[Joffa Burns]

I always rated these guys as very similar players.

The Swans gave up pick 44 for Henry, we gave nothing for Chuck!

Anyone who knows more about them than me care to elaborate on the two?

[plugger66]

I always rated these guys as very similar players.

The Swans gave up pick 44 for Henry, we gave nothing for Chuck!

Anyone who knows more about them than me care to elaborate on the two?

I think Henry may be just a bit better. Certainly a better kick and a bit taller. Gardiner prbably moves better. Not much in it though.

[Unforgiven]

Gardiner is better. Henry Playfair is Kepler Bradley's twin brother, these boys have no idea which way their team is going half the time. Gardiner had a better season in the VFL, but yeh both are similar, I'd rather Gardiner than Playfair, only because we have the likes of Watts, Brooks in a similar mould.

[Riewoldting]

we have the likes of Watts, Brooks in a similar mould.

We do?

[Oh When the Saints]

Playfair much taller and more of a traditional KPP, whereas Gardiner is more in your Rusling/Ferguson mould.

Gardiner has terrific hands and had a much better year in the VFL in 2007 than Playfair did.

[Beej]

I always rated these guys as very similar players.

Funny you mentioned that JB, because immediately after hearing the news that we picked Gardiner up I thought back to the bits and pieces I saw of the VFL grand final. I remembered being very impressed with the performance of Gardiner.

Thinking back now, I'm positive it was actually Playfair who impressed me, and not Gardiner. As you said, they are very similar players.

Geelong saw Gardiner as a midfielder but he found the Cats midfield difficult to break into. However I think his natural athleticism would be best suited to a stopping role in our backline and that's where Lyon will attempt to use him imo.

In terms of his delivery he couldn't hit a cow's ass with a banjo but he has a great leap and he'd be quick to snuff out leads.

A new role may be exactly what he needs to jump start his career. If I were Ross I'd hand him straight over to Silvagni to see what he can do with him.

[Brian Collis]

Gardiner has terrific hands and had a much better year in the VFL in 2007 than Gardiner did."

So which Gardiner are we talking about

The mouldy one or the clean one?

[Ghost Like]

In terms of his delivery he couldn't hit a cow's ass with a banjo but he has a great leap and he'd be quick to snuff out leads.

A new role may be exactly what he needs to jump start his career. If I were Ross I'd hand him straight over to Silvagni to see what he can do with him.[/quote]

I think we've recruited him as a forward so hopefully his pre-season is spent with BJ learning how to kick. Whether he does work on his kicking or not I would rather him kicking a point than turning it over across half back when he does get his chance.

[Beej]

I think we've recruited him as a forward so hopefully his pre-season is spent with BJ learning how to kick. Whether he does work on his kicking or not I would rather him kicking a point than turning it over across half back when he does get his chance.

I was having a similar conversation with someone the other day.

A turnover is a turnover, they often result in goals no matter where you are on the ground.

Missing an easy goal is worse than a mistake across half back imo - a goal missed is always a goal lost whereas a mistake across half back often results in a goal lost. Both have a similar debilitating effect on a team's morale.

Every side gets numbers behind the ball so naturally you get a lot more time in defence, as long as you know your limitations you can hit short targets all day - see Luke McPharlin.

It's why when Max misses a shot on goal you often hear a member of the crowd shout, "get back to defence Maxi, for christ's sake!"

[SaintBot]

Gardiner was suggested to the club by his manager (who was finalising the Dempster deal). He adveritised him as a lead-up forward with great endurance which would be handy considering the losses of Gehrig and Hamill.

Ofcourse StKilda then accepted a deal.

When Quinlan met St Kilda football manager Ken Sheldon at an Elwood cafe yesterday morning to finalise the paperwork for Sean Dempster's move to Moorabbin, he raised Gardiner's name again.

His sell to Sheldon focused on how the Saints had lost Fraser Gehrig and Aaron Hamill and could do with a lead-up forward with great endurance such as Gardiner.

"Hang on a minute, that may well be possible," Sheldon said as he made a quick phone call to Saints coach Ross Lyon.

An hour later he rang Quinlan to say the deal was a possibility. Then by midday, Gardiner, who hadn't spoken to anyone at St Kilda, became a Saint, along with Geelong teammate Steven King.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/ ... 42,00.html

[WinnersOnly]

Charles Gardiner (Geelong) 20games 40goals 10 time named in best. Not too bad for a fringe player...2nd in Geelong VFL B&F also - obviously can play just couldn't get a run in their AFL side 2007....

[wallbanger]

From speaking to an avid Cats supporter from down here in Geelong, he also decsribes Gardiner as the "lead-up" type forward who might be able to do the hard yards across half forward/centre of the ground, allowing Riewoldt to stay closer to goal and have a bigger impact on the scoreboard.

Personally I think the strength of Roo is his ability to outrun his opponents going forward and then returning back towards the forward 50, so whether that is the plan or not remains to be seen.

Given the loss of Hamill and Gehrig, I tend to think Gardiner could be a handy acquisition, along with Schneider who is exactly the type of player needed. Hopefully those two could make the forward line a bit less predictable, which can only help in the long run.

[kalsaint]

From speaking to an avid Cats supporter from down here in Geelong, he also decsribes Gardiner as the "lead-up" type forward who might be able to do the hard yards across half forward/centre of the ground, allowing Riewoldt to stay closer to goal and have a bigger impact on the scoreboard.

Personally I think the strength of Roo is his ability to outrun his opponents going forward and then returning back towards the forward 50, so whether that is the plan or not remains to be seen.

Given the loss of Hamill and Gehrig, I tend to think Gardiner could be a handy acquisition, along with Schneider who is exactly the type of player needed. Hopefully those two could make the forward line a bit less predictable, which can only help in the long run.

Yes and No

To often when Roo, Kosi and Fraser were all up forward Roo the skies got crowded and the defence were able to puch to the ground. Kosi and Fraser has a good working relationship and good understanding. Roo was always better further up the ground as he was able to apply better defensive pressure than the other 2 when the ball hit the ground and used his athletic ability better.
Charlie should start forward closer to goal. He has been handy there for Geelong at times (2004 Pre-Season comes to mind).

[StSteven]

Believe it or not Charlie is a more reliable kick than Playfair. Charlie will be very handy.

[Riewoldting]

Kosi will work from the goalsquare and Roo will retain his role as the roaming CHF (endurance is his chief asset) but will still net 50-odd goals.

Gardiner would slot in nicely as the lead-up midsize forward that we have lacked since Hamill's injury woes forced him off the park.

All those who complain about Kosi and Riewoldt being double/triple teamed seem to forget that a smart, creative, dynamic medium forward like Hamill (or now, Gardiner) commands a decent defender, not some big ape. And if that decent defender is tied up with Gardiner, he won't be double teaming Roo or Kosi.

He has no injury concerns and is actually a required player at the Saints (as opposed to Geelong, where he competed with N Ablett and S Johnson in 2007).

Geelong fans have derided his decision-making ability. With a specific role to play and two massive leading forwards, you would hope he would improve in this area.

A new environment, the support of King (Geelong) and Ball (Sandringham), a specific role, a second chance at AFL footy, and the pain of seeing his Cats teammates play in a premiership side should all combine to allow Gardiner to improve his game.

I see a lot of upside in Charlie Gardiner.

I will conservatively expect 10 goals from Gardiner in 2008. Twenty would be brilliant.

And if not ... who cares? He's free!