Cats reject hopes to have last laugh
WHAT do Joel Hamling and Ryan Gardner have in common?
Both are no-fuss defenders and both had three years on Geelong’s list but were delisted without playing an AFL game.
And both were given a second chance at the Western Bulldogs, with Hamling going on to feature in the 2016 flag in his 23rd game.
For Gardner, it will be his 22nd game if the Dogs play in the decider.
“When I got delisted at Geelong, I had a really heartfelt conversation with (former Geelong player welfare officer) David Johnson, who told me about Joel Hamling,” Gardner said.
“He had a similar thing happen to him – he got delisted and went to another club, obviously to the Western Bulldogs, and made a career after being delisted.
“I thought a similar thing that if I can do something similar to what he can do, obviously that would be great.”
Gardner is in “disbelief” as he prepares for Saturday’s preliminary final against Port Adelaide. He was delisted by Geelong in 2018 and juggled three jobs, including steam-cleaning carpets with Johnson.
“He was an absolute workhorse,” Johnson said.
Gardner juggled work with playing for Footscray in the VFL in 2019 and was promoted to the senior list in the mid-season draft. The next day he was told he would make his AFL debut.
“Three years at Geelong and not being able to get a game. Mentally, I probably thought, ‘Am I ever going to get a go anywhere’?” he said.
“Then to be able to get on another list, just that growth in my game and now to actually be playing consistent AFL football.”
By his own admission, Gardner’s first few games “didn’t go the way I would have liked”, but he has since become one of the side’s most-improved players.
“There was a lot of external noise around why I was getting a game,” he said.
“I had the belief in my ability and everyone in the club believed in me as well. They were the only people I needed to listen to.”