TonyK
CibbuanoI'm not quitting yet: Gehrig
May 17th 2008 23:53
ST KILDA forward Fraser Gehrig has admitted on Channel Ten's Before The Game that he won't retire yet despite a disappointing start to the season as he continues to chase that elusive premiership.
Gehrig has managed just nine goals and 32 possessions in five matches this season as his body struggles to cope with the rigours of AFL football.
"I won't lie, it's been a battle," he said on Channel Ten's Before The Game, five matches into a "new" career with the Saints after retiring last season and being picked up in the pre-season draft.
"The body probably hasn't responded as well as I would like to have. The club knew, and I knew, when I came back that I would need a lot of things to go right for me and that's why they took the punt.
"I've played five games and they haven't been my greatest games, to be honest."
Asked whether he would play on this season, Gehrig said it would be dependent upon the needs of the team and how his body holds up.
"It's always dependent on the team, injuries, stuff like that; how my body has held up, and to be honest, my body hasn't held up great … It comes down to list management; whether I think I can actually get myself through a game or consecutive games," he said.
Gehrig added that there were young players at the club, playing in VFL side Casey Scorpions, who were "flying and probably deserve their chance, at some stage".
"I don't think I've contributed enough to the side. I'm not alone, but the team's not flying and there's a lot of guys who have to put their hand up and be accountable for the way we're going. Whether I go on, I don't know."
Teammate Luke Ball yesterday threw his support behind Gehrig, saying that his poor performance on Friday night had been partly due to poor delivery by the midfielders into the forward line.
"Look, for starters, I don't think our delivery into the forward line to him or Kosi (Justin Koschitzke) last night was very helpful," he said.
"I didn't hear what the coach said to be honest, but Fraser's certainly got the players' full support. As players, you go through peaks and troughs in your form.
"One thing that is for sure is that Frase works as hard, if not harder, than anyone else on the track and he has been doing that and will continue to do that no doubt. From a teammate's perspective that is all he has to know from us. We are fully behind him."
During his post-match press conference following the loss to Collingwood on Friday night St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said Gehrig's form was a concern.
"It is a concern, clearly it's a concern," he said.
"We really respect Fraser and we want to give him every opportunity but he will be really disappointed (by his performance)."
Lyon hinted that Gehrig's ageing body was no longer capable of competing at AFL level.
"His body is not what it was and it's frightening what can happen in six months," he said.
Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said on SEN that it appeared from Lyon's comments that Gehrig had played his last game for the club.
"It's not a matter of blame in this," he said. "When you're in a club, you play as a club and you play as a team and I can't see there's anything other than a retirement for Fraser, given what I've just heard from Ross," Thomas said.
"That's the first time I've heard (Lyon's) interview and I'm a bit shocked by it."
Meanwhile the Saints have elevated Andrew McQualter from the rookie list to replace key defender Matt Maguire, who was placed on the long-term injury list after suffering a serious foot injury.
Gehrig has managed just nine goals and 32 possessions in five matches this season as his body struggles to cope with the rigours of AFL football.
"I won't lie, it's been a battle," he said on Channel Ten's Before The Game, five matches into a "new" career with the Saints after retiring last season and being picked up in the pre-season draft.
"The body probably hasn't responded as well as I would like to have. The club knew, and I knew, when I came back that I would need a lot of things to go right for me and that's why they took the punt.
"I've played five games and they haven't been my greatest games, to be honest."
Asked whether he would play on this season, Gehrig said it would be dependent upon the needs of the team and how his body holds up.
"It's always dependent on the team, injuries, stuff like that; how my body has held up, and to be honest, my body hasn't held up great … It comes down to list management; whether I think I can actually get myself through a game or consecutive games," he said.
Gehrig added that there were young players at the club, playing in VFL side Casey Scorpions, who were "flying and probably deserve their chance, at some stage".
"I don't think I've contributed enough to the side. I'm not alone, but the team's not flying and there's a lot of guys who have to put their hand up and be accountable for the way we're going. Whether I go on, I don't know."
Teammate Luke Ball yesterday threw his support behind Gehrig, saying that his poor performance on Friday night had been partly due to poor delivery by the midfielders into the forward line.
"Look, for starters, I don't think our delivery into the forward line to him or Kosi (Justin Koschitzke) last night was very helpful," he said.
"I didn't hear what the coach said to be honest, but Fraser's certainly got the players' full support. As players, you go through peaks and troughs in your form.
"One thing that is for sure is that Frase works as hard, if not harder, than anyone else on the track and he has been doing that and will continue to do that no doubt. From a teammate's perspective that is all he has to know from us. We are fully behind him."
During his post-match press conference following the loss to Collingwood on Friday night St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said Gehrig's form was a concern.
"It is a concern, clearly it's a concern," he said.
"We really respect Fraser and we want to give him every opportunity but he will be really disappointed (by his performance)."
Lyon hinted that Gehrig's ageing body was no longer capable of competing at AFL level.
"His body is not what it was and it's frightening what can happen in six months," he said.
Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said on SEN that it appeared from Lyon's comments that Gehrig had played his last game for the club.
"It's not a matter of blame in this," he said. "When you're in a club, you play as a club and you play as a team and I can't see there's anything other than a retirement for Fraser, given what I've just heard from Ross," Thomas said.
"That's the first time I've heard (Lyon's) interview and I'm a bit shocked by it."
Meanwhile the Saints have elevated Andrew McQualter from the rookie list to replace key defender Matt Maguire, who was placed on the long-term injury list after suffering a serious foot injury.
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