POLL : Fringe Focus : Ryan Gardner

[Grantysghost]

On we go with the series, today looking at one of the best humans to call the kennel home, Tassie's own Ryan Gardner.

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Gardner was born on 1 June 1997 in Smithton, Tasmania. He developed through the Tasmanian football system, notably playing with the Burnie Dockers in Tasmania. His performances in Tasmania helped him come into view of AFL recruiters, standing 197 cm tall and with the versatility to play key positions.

Gardner was selected by Geelong Cats with pick 59 in the 2015 National Draft. His time at Geelong lasted until 2018, but he did not play a senior AFL game for the Cats.

Mid-season in 2019, Gardner was drafted by the Western Bulldogs with pick 6 in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft. He made his AFL debut soon after. Establishing himself more steadily, he became a regular defender, playing a career-best 22 games in 2022 and earning a contract extension until the end of 2026.

Contract extension link: Gardner remains in red, white and blue

Pros:

• Strong overhead/good spoil
• Endurance
• Can pinch hit in other positions (ruck)

Cons:

• Disposal can be sloppy
• One paced
• Injuries / consistency

Poll question : At the end of Ryan Gardner's current contract (end 26) what would you do?

[Grantysghost]

I've voted keep if he can reclaim his 2022 form.

21/22 he was very good. He copped that big shoulder injury in the Good Friday game in 21 but came back to be a solid player the following season and earned that contract extension.

He looked great pre-season this year playing a bit of time in the ruck, I certainly had him playing early doors, but it didn't happen. Later he really copped a bad game to come into v the Hawks, and we never given time to settle into the side.

[Dogs 24/7]

I talked to a footy person at the club a couple of weeks back and we discussed the merits of Ryan Gardner.
We both came to conclusion that Gardner is a valuable break glass option and he wouldn't be tying up big money in anyway
He is versatile and plenty experienced and just needs some luck staying injury free.
Here is the kicker, he thinks Gardner will play a decent number of senior games next year and is an ideal 5th player on the bench option for us.

That probably won't resonate well with the majority of WOOFers and I will happily cop my whack but it's not often you get a chance to talk to a knowledgeable footy person in the club and calmly discuss an often under appreciated player.

The options provided Grantysghost I'm only happy to keep him beyond 2026 if he plays at least 7 senior games next year.

[GVGjr]

I'm more than okay with Gards being on the list. I'm a bit with Dogs 24/7 on that if he can play a few games in 2026 I'd be open to him going on

[Grantysghost]

I talked to a footy person at the club a couple of weeks back and we discussed the merits of Ryan Gardner.
We both came to conclusion that Gardner is a valuable break glass option and he wouldn't be tying up big money in anyway
He is versatile and plenty experienced and just needs some luck staying injury free.
Here is the kicker, he thinks Gardner will play a decent number of senior games next year and is an ideal 5th player on the bench option for us.

That probably won't resonate well with the majority of WOOFers and I will happily cop my whack but it's not often you get a chance to talk to a knowledgeable footy person in the club and calmly discuss an often under appreciated player.

The options provided Grantysghost I'm only happy to keep him beyond 2026 if he plays at least 7 senior games next year.

The options are the bit I spent the most time thinking about !

Any feedback welcome.

[Stevo]

We are impatient for Gardner to establish himself. At worst he gives us a but of depth in our back line options
He's worth keeping

[Grantysghost]

We are impatient for Gardner to establish himself. At worst he gives us a but of depth in our back line options
He's worth keeping

Yes agree. I think he's better than most give him credit for. Of course, he's no Matty Scarlett but he's a serviceable defender who if he gets a good run at it could hold down a D1/2 post for us. Depth is most likely his role.

[Go_Dogs]

I voted delist.

We need to unearth key defenders who are AFL quality and to do that, we need to turnover the players who we have a fair idea aren’t going to be a difference maker to enable us to take a punt on another option.

Don’t mind Gardner and agree he did some OK things at times but he’s not the answer.

[Axe Man]

He’s actually exactly the style of defender we need, albeit even his best in 2022 still isn’t quite at the standard you would ideally like.

Spoil first defender, doesn’t need to be taking a heap of intercepts or getting much of the ball. Just take safe options when you do get it, Dale Morris style. Needs to make sure he is rarely beaten in one on ones given his other limitations.

I haven’t completely given up on him given we won a flag with Fletcher Roberts and successful teams often have limited, unfashionable defenders like Darcy Gardiner. Clock is certainly ticking this season though.

[Bornadog]

At this stage we have no choice but to hang on to him, but if he doesn't perform, then 2026 will be his last season. He has just not progressed over the years and I still think he was unlucky not to be in the 2021 GF team.

[NAUGHTY100]

I dont mind Gardner , in that i think his a good solid VFL footballer , but the step up to senior football seems beyond him , his been given a chance every year his been on our list , and apart from some good solid games in 2022 , every other year his got his chance to get back into the senior side and prove his worthy of a spot , unfortunately his failed .
We cant keep doing the same thing each year with Gardner , he might be ok for depth but how many games is he going to get , how long do we persevere with him , is he holding guys like Sellwood , Walker and any future dratees back ?.
Hard decisions are made every year , favorite players are let go , and the time comes for every player when their time is up , and i personally think its Gardners time , looking at it honestly he has to be 4 th or 5th choice to get games , maybe its time to refresh and try other players , we know what we have got with Gardner and unfortunately its just not good enough , when his contract runs out i think its time to delist .

[Jasper]

Gardner has also got a fringe
He's certainly no star player but he is a decent option for us. Can be used in the ruck or forward or back.
We have judged him to harshly on that Hawthorn game and he offers us more than that. Lets keep him for another 12 months and see what happens.

[NAUGHTY100]

Gardner has also got a fringe
He's certainly no star player but he is a decent option for us. Can be used in the ruck or forward or back.
We have judged him to harshly on that Hawthorn game and he offers us more than that. Lets keep him for another 12 months and see what happens.

We have to keep him for at least another year because his contract runs out in 2026 , i think the pressing question is what do we do with him after that , beacuse i agree with you he stays on the list in 2026 .
I dont think we get anything different to what we got this year from him , he would have to play at least 10 reasonable games next year for me to extend his contract for any length of time , which i dont think he can do .

[Grantysghost]

I dont mind Gardner , in that i think his a good solid VFL footballer , but the step up to senior football seems beyond him , his been given a chance every year his been on our list , and apart from some good solid games in 2022 , every other year his got his chance to get back into the senior side and prove his worthy of a spot , unfortunately his failed .
We cant keep doing the same thing each year with Gardner , he might be ok for depth but how many games is he going to get , how long do we persevere with him , is he holding guys like Sellwood , Walker and any future dratees back ?.
Hard decisions are made every year , favorite players are let go , and the time comes for every player when their time is up , and i personally think its Gardners time , looking at it honestly he has to be 4 th or 5th choice to get games , maybe its time to refresh and try other players , we know what we have got with Gardner and unfortunately its just not good enough , when his contract runs out i think its time to delist .

Yep all good points Naughty. He certainly is mega fringe atm.

[1eyedog]

He's a Mr In-Between.

Not strong enough to go body on body and not quick enough to follow around the athletic types. Reads the ball reasonably well in the air and can spoil almost in the vein of the 3rd man role but if he's just doing that he needs more strings. Which he doesn't seem to have.

A bit of a plodder actually. Harsh but fair. Break glass option for 2026 then delist.