Gardiner could be in a bit of trouble...

[Beej]

for that hit on Maric while he was on the ground. It was the incident which resulted in a 50 and a goal to Gardiner after Maric retaliated.

Just watching a replay now and it doesn't look good.

edit: actually, after a second look, Gardiner possibly attempts to just punch the ball. May have made contact with Maric's head, but it's hard to tell.

What we do know is that Gardiner comes in extremely late to do whatever it is he did.

[3rd generation saint]

His saving grace is that you can see the ball in Maric's hands, and Gardiners small impact thrust was clearly aimed for the ball and grazed Maric's face.

[Beej]

Yep, just edited my post.

[claystreet]

I thought that he might go when last night they showed the play close up, appears by that vision Gardy went in with a fist to the head

[remboy]

His saving grace is that you can see the ball in Maric's hands, and Gardiners small impact thrust was clearly aimed for the ball and grazed Maric's face.

That was my immediate impression as well. He was going pretty hard at the ball. Depends on whether the MRP thinks that constitutes being reckless or negigent.

[Richter]

I didn't see last week's game, so I was thoroughly rapt with Gardiner's game last night. The dominant ruckman on the ground for mine. The number of times he gave our mids, Dal in particular, first opportunity...... also followed it up with some decent play around the ground......... reminded why he was a number 1 pick..... very exciting....

[Kate]

Clearly a punch at the ball. Couldn't tell if Maric was contacted or not. The only suggestion that Maric might have been hit was his own whine about it. Someone should tell the kid that this is a man's game.

Gards would be unlucky to go, given that that kind of incidental contact occurs all the time and rarly gets pinged.

[saint patrick]

Very mimimal contact ,more of a grazing action and the ball in the area.Maric was just taking out some general frustration and trying to find an excuse for it.Will be looked at but won't go any further.

[perfectionist]

It was what he was doing with his fingers that concerned me, but on slomo, it looks like he was trying to wrench the ball from the grasp, and not the eyes from the face, of his opponent. No case to answer, but he's a Saints player - so who knows? (Although it is in the past, and I should move on, I still cannot believe the penalty to Steven Baker last year. Normally, I'm a hanging judge re reportable matters, but that was bizarre in all senses of the word. He was rubbed out for so long because of 'perceived', not reportable, indisgressions during his career as a tagger and not because of that incident.)

[JABBER]

Accident high contact to head no injury to Maric not enough point for (sus.)

[Saints Premiers 2008]

first reply it looked bad as if mg had actually punched and connected however looking back a few times over it seemed like he barely connected if at all

however seeing how a few of the cats and hawks somehow got off last week (i think they shouldnt have had a case to answer but rules and rules) who knows...

[saint patrick]

It was what he was doing with his fingers that concerned me, but on slomo, it looks like he was trying to wrench the ball from the grasp, and not the eyes from the face, of his opponent. No case to answer, but he's a Saints player - so who knows? (Although it is in the past, and I should move on, I still cannot believe the penalty to Steven Baker last year. Normally, I'm a hanging judge re reportable matters, but that was bizarre in all senses of the word. He was rubbed out for so long because of 'perceived', not reportable, indisgressions during his career as a tagger and not because of that incident.)

Will never quite get over that Baker decision.... absolutely defied every principle in the book ...even Bondy said on AW when the trainer said he hadn't seen contact that Baker must get off....

Still think the club should have taken a stand and tested the legal system as I believe it would have been laughed out of court.

Bakes holding up a premiership medallion would help ease the memory

[The Saintsational Man]

Nah the big fella's fine.

[claystreet]

Hadnt seen a replay until now, but looking at it a few times it doesnt seem as bad as it looked initially.

We will soon see what the AFL think

[GrumpyOne]

MG - no case to answer - cos the GrumpyOne says so.

[Armoooo]

Am I the only one who thinks Maric might have something to answer to? I'm sure I saw him punch someone in the head in retalliation...

[joffaboy]

Am I the only one who thinks Maric might have something to answer to? I'm sure I saw him punch someone in the head in retalliation...

No you are not. The Maric "retaliation" was much worse than the tiny little incidental tap by Gardiner.

if anything comes from that especially after the "Gehrig one week" tummy punches let off last week it will be a joke.

But then again thats what the MRP is.

[Beej]

Am I the only one who thinks Maric might have something to answer to? I'm sure I saw him punch someone in the head in retalliation...

That was the biggest bit of play-acting from Gardiner. I don't even think contact was made to Gardiner's head. It was more high back but Gardiner made the most of it and won the free-kick.

[St DAC]

That was the biggest bit of play-acting from Gardiner. I don't even think contact was made to Gardiner's head. It was more high back but Gardiner made the most of it and won the free-kick.

Yep.

[Sobraz]

nothing in it....

but, Gards is wearing a red, white and black jumper, and is not really an AFL love child, so itll be a stressful few days...

honestly, this is the sort of incedent that the MRP get thier laughing stock reputation from... they may try and make something out of nothing here...

[Bernard Shakey]

It was what he was doing with his fingers that concerned me, but on slomo, it looks like he was trying to wrench the ball from the grasp, and not the eyes from the face, of his opponent. No case to answer, but he's a Saints player - so who knows? (Although it is in the past, and I should move on, I still cannot believe the penalty to Steven Baker last year. Normally, I'm a hanging judge re reportable matters, but that was bizarre in all senses of the word. He was rubbed out for so long because of 'perceived', not reportable, indisgressions during his career as a tagger and not because of that incident.)

That would be 2007, not last year. Bakes only played two games last year.

[Solar]

looked worse then it really was, what will sve him is that the ball was very close

[chook23]

no mention in match review outcomes

[B W and R all over]

Sweet as a bun!

Contact between St Kilda’s Michael Gardiner and Adelaide’s Ivan Maric from the third quarter of Friday’s game was assessed. It was the view of the panel that there was no evidence to support a striking charge. No further action was taken.

[Beej]

Great news.

The last thing we or he needs is some time out of the game now that he's in a decent run of form.