The Roar
The Roar

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Saints grand final quartet to retire

10th September, 2011
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St Kilda players Michael Gardiner, Steven Baker, Robert Eddy and Andrew McQualter all announced their retirement in the change rooms on Saturday night.

Although none took part in the loss to the Swans, all four were grand final players for the Saints.

“They have all been integral members of my time at the Saints and our finals quests,” said coach Ross Lyon.

“They gave great effort and I really want to acknowledge their effort.”

Lyon said he was bitterly disappointed at bowing out in the first week of the finals series, especially after reaching the 2009 and 2010 grand finals.

“There is a natural attrition (of players) – most clubs churn through x amount per year,” he said.

“But certainly it sort of feels like the end of an era to be honest.

“To lose a home final at Etihad, against a good team, but it was a really disappointing night.”

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Sydney coach John Longmire was proud of how his players stepped up when the heat was on in the last quarter.

“Probably the real key was showing some resilience in the end when they came back at us in that third term,” he said.

“They’re a quality team who have been to the last two grand finals and I thought our ability to be able to stop that and give some more back was good.”

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