Rating our list 2021: Ryan Gardner 43

[Hotdog60]

Hi All,

During the off season I thought I would start our list rating again. I won't included the new recruits as there is nothing to go on and I'll leave out desisted and retired players as there is no point.

Like last time I'll count down from the highest number to the lowest but I thought the poll rating this time will go on a different tack and get Woofers thoughts on how they rank from Elite to Below Average.

[Hotdog60]

https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/AFL/Players/ChampIDImages/XLarge2022/997501.png?i10c=img.resize(scale_height:0.504)

After being picked up in the 2019 Mid-Season Draft, Gardner found a spot in the Bulldogs side in 2020 as a key defender and was consistently backed in by coach Luke Beveridge.
LINK (https://www.afl.com.au/stats/stats-pro#/Discover/CD_I997501/Gardner-Ryan)

[Hotdog60]

I think Ryan has show that he can be an important cog in the back line.
His kicking can be a little suss but I think as time has gone he has show he hold his own with a no frills approach.

[GVGjr]

I think Ryan has show that he can be an important cog in the back line.
His kicking can be a little suss but I think as time has gone he has show he hold his own with a no frills approach.

I've been impressed by his development and 2022 is a big season for him.
He needs to stay close to injury free as he has competition from Schache and Cordy to be selected alongside of Keath and at times even O'Brien might be used as a 2nd key defender.

I'm hoping we stick with Gardner as Keath's main back up.

[soupman]

2021 was a significant improvement on what was truly an underwhelming and at numerous times woeful first year and a half on our list.

I am worried he doesn't really have an AFL trait (discipline doesn't count), but he does do just enough to play his role well. He is "ok" in a number of areas; he can mark, his kicking is sufficient, he spoils fine, he is fine athletically if not a touch weak, but none of those are particularly impressive and he lacks intensity at times. Luckily he plays the least demanding role in the side in terms of skillset, and the fact that someone like Fletcher Roberts is a Premiership player means that Gardner can still amount to something despite my criticisms.

I'm optimistic he can play a role for us, but really wish we brought another key defender onto the list who could grow and challenge him for his spot as if he goes backwards at all I don't think he is a viable option.

[SonofScray]

He’s done well to drag himself up to average.

Has become a reliable, meat and potatoes spoiler who is a nice fit in a defence where we want to limit bench rotations so the mids can use them and keep other defenders free to run and create.

Proven to be tough. If he can be more resilient to the impacts of physical play down there I think he slots in and we are better for it.

[Bulldog Joe]

I think Gardner has shown himself as really capable in the lockdown role.

He has good pace and spoils well.

His injury issues hurt us in 2021, but I see him with first crack at the tall lockdown role and I expect him to continue to improve as his experience grows.

[Vred]

I think he has alot of room to get better, I have a feeling he will be an important cog in the machine next year and we might see a 'breakout' year from him... If he remains uninjured.

[bornadog]

I think he is an average footballer who has lots of improvement left in him. He is good one on one, but I get worried when he tries to short pass in the backline (ala Lake).

We need our big men in the backline to stand up, if we are to make the GF again.