Lions enforcer Darcy Gardiner similar to Scott brothers
AN AFL finals scrap the Scott brothers relished awaits the similarly relentless Darcy Gardiner at the Gabba on Saturday night.
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AN AFL finals scrap the Scott brothers relished awaits the similarly relentless Darcy Gardiner at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Chris and Brad Scott made a career out of playing “on the edge”, with their aggressive defending a crucial part of the Brisbane Lions’ golden era in the early 2000s.
If there’s a player in the current Brisbane squad who evokes memories of the manner in which the Scott brothers played their football, it’s Gardiner.
“Darcy’s like the Scott boys – dogged, determined, competitive individuals that just hate to lose and that’s what you need down back,” Lions legend Simon Black said.
“Darcy’s a terrific competitor. He’s absolutely filthy when he gets beat, and you have to admire that about him.”
In his sixth season with the Lions after being pick No.22 in 2013 national draft, Gardiner said while he didn’t personally know the Scott brothers, he was aware of and appreciated their style of football.
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“They were fierce footballers, pretty combative competitors,” Gardiner said ahead of Brisbane’s do-or-die weekend finals clash against GWS Giants.
“In my position you have to be pretty physical and play on the edge – the right edge obviously – because if the goals get kicked on you, you are the one getting looked at.”
Gardiner admitted to doing “silly things” in the past.
“But I’ve taken them out of my game as I’ve developed and matured over time,” he said.
Black agreed, saying Gardiner had cut the rubbish out of his game.
“Darcy would give the odd free-kick away through ill-discipline in the past, but he’s really curbed that in the past 12 months or so. He’s a really disciplined player these days,” said the triple-premiership winner and former member of Brisbane’s coaching staff.
“He’s grown his game enormously in the past 12 months, and he’s able to play on lots of different types, and he’s like the go-to defender for the Lions.
“Your true competitors rise to the occasion on the big stage, and Darcy’s got that manner about him. He’s a really important player to the Lions – no question.
“The Lions have got the game to win on the weekend – there’s no doubt about that.”
Black addressed the Lions squad at the start of the finals series, and it was advice much appreciated by Gardiner.
“We can draw a few things from the club’s premiership players and get some experiences off them, which can only be a positive,” Gardiner said.
Originally published as Lions enforcer Darcy Gardiner similar to Scott brothers