TonyK
CibbuanoGehrig faces race against time
July 8th 2008 05:35
FRASER Gehrig's chances of playing a role in the Saints' run to the finals are slim, according to football operations manager Matthew Drain.
Gehrig, who managed just nine goals in five appearances this season before standing down to rest his arthritic hands, will remain on the club's long-term injury list until the end of round 16.
Drain said on Tuesday it was unlikely that Gehrig would play again in 2008.
"It's possible but not probable," he said.
"It's really going to come down to how he's feeling on a number of fronts and also our needs for Fraser for the rest of the year."
Gehrig, who was redrafted by the Saints after retiring then changing his mind at the end of 2007, has a finger in a splint as a result of recent surgery to his wrist and hand.
Drain said the 32-year-old would need to come back through the VFL to have any chance of playing at AFL level again this season.
"There's a lot of other factors as to where his hands are at - it's not just a matter of feeling fit to play," he said.
"There's going to be a lot of conditioning factors around having not played for so long."
"We're not writing him off, but it’s not probable that he'll play at this point in time."
Gehrig, who managed just nine goals in five appearances this season before standing down to rest his arthritic hands, will remain on the club's long-term injury list until the end of round 16.
Drain said on Tuesday it was unlikely that Gehrig would play again in 2008.
"It's possible but not probable," he said.
"It's really going to come down to how he's feeling on a number of fronts and also our needs for Fraser for the rest of the year."
Gehrig, who was redrafted by the Saints after retiring then changing his mind at the end of 2007, has a finger in a splint as a result of recent surgery to his wrist and hand.
Drain said the 32-year-old would need to come back through the VFL to have any chance of playing at AFL level again this season.
"There's a lot of other factors as to where his hands are at - it's not just a matter of feeling fit to play," he said.
"There's going to be a lot of conditioning factors around having not played for so long."
"We're not writing him off, but it’s not probable that he'll play at this point in time."
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