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Fraser Gehrig

Fraser Gehrig (born 3 March 1976) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League (AFL) currently listed with the St Kilda Football Club.

Gehrig has been a versatile player during his AFL career, beginning his career at West Coast before becoming known as a powerful goal kicker and Coleman medalist at St Kilda.

Gehrig holds the bench press record at both West Coast and St Kilda and is the best bench press performer in the AFL, regarded by many as the strongest and most intimidating player in the AFL.

Early life

He grew up in Wodonga, Victoria and attended high school at Catholic College, Wodonga.

Career with West Coast

Gehrig began his AFL career at the West Coast Eagles playing as a utility and on the wing. He was known for his strength and versatility.

Gehrig struggled to break into a powerful Eagles lineup during his first few years at the Western Australian club, but he stepped up in 1997 and won selection in the All-Australian Team on a forward pocket.

Gehrig had a season on the half-forward line in 1998, but struggled with injury and form over the following two years and was traded to St Kilda at the end of the 2000 season. West Coast received David Sierakowski and 2000 AFL Draft selection number 18 (Daniel Kerr) from St Kilda in exchange for Gehrig.

Career with St Kilda

Gehrig made his debut with the Saints in 2001 under the leadership of new coach Malcolm Blight. He initially played at full-back and finished second in the St Kilda Best and Fairest award in 2001. In 2003 he switched to the full-forward position and this move coincided with St Kilda's rise up the ladder, finishing 10th in 2003 and playing in finals matches in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Gehrig became a powerful and dominant force in the goalsquare and weighed in at 109 kilograms. He quickly became a prolific goalkicker, booting 55 goals in 2003 and 103 in 2004. A large pitch invasion by fans occurred following his 100th goal. Gehrig won back-to-back Coleman Medals in 2004 and 2005 and was named at full-forward in the All-Australian team in 2004.

Gehrig's unique style of play earned him the nicknames "G-Train" for his locomotive-like leads and strong marking and "Carpet Snake" for his tendency to 'hide' behind the goal posts only to appear when the ball was heading his way. He has twice kicked 10 goals in a match in his AFL career; once against Richmond and once against the Kangaroos.

Gehrig was close to retirement at the end of the 2003 season but then coach, Grant Thomas, managed to convince him to play on. Gehrig signed a one-year deal at the end of the 2006 season and was again a prolific goal-kicker for the Saints, booting 59 goals from 20 matches.

Temporary retirement

Immediately before St Kilda's last game of the 2007 season, on 1st September, Gehrig announced his retirement to the team. Unusually he waved to the dedicated fans in the cheersquad when he came on the field and then played well in a tight contest against Richmond. In the dying seconds of the match Gehrig took a strong mark in St Kilda's forward line and kicked his 540th career goal, one of five that day, to secure the win. Gehrig was chaired off the ground by St Kilda players Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke, bare-chested after giving his famous number nine jumper to a young female fan in the stands.

Comeback

Three months later Gehrig shocked many by changing his mind and deciding that he wished to continue playing with St Kilda. Having already been removed from St Kilda's playing list, Gehrig was forced to return via one of the AFL drafts and opted for the national draft over the pre-season draft. This option forced Gehrig onto the standard two-year draftees' contract, but allowed the club to redraft him without using an early pre-season draft selection. St Kilda re-drafted Gehrig with its fourth round selection (#57 overall).

After a few lacklustre games, many feared that Gehrig had lost his form and fitness and he was dropped to the reserves. In a last ditch effort to kickstart his playing the coach selected him in the senior list, but he failed to have any impact. Gehrig revealed that he was suffering from painful arthritis which affected his game and required surgery. St Kilda then put him on its long-term injury list. This move onto the long-term injury list, instead of retirement, meant that St Kilda were able to elevate Robert Eddy from the rookie list. Gehrig's subsequent return to the senior list was a precaution in case of injuries to other players but he has not since played again.

Controversies

Gehrig has been involved in some off-field indiscretions during his time with both St Kilda and West Coast. It was alleged that Gehrig urinated on a patron at a nightclub, although no formal accusations were made

Gehrig was also charged with the unlawful assault of a woman in an alleged incident during Grand Final week in 2006. Gehrig, with Steven Lawrence and former Brisbane Lions captain Michael Voss, were all charged over a fight in a St Kilda hotel.

Some of Gehrig's onfield incidents have earned him penalties, with the forward suspended for striking (once in the 2003, twice in 2004, once in 2005 and once in 2007).

In 2005 he was expelled from Thailand with a group of other footballers for undisclosed incidents.

Charitable work

Despite the tough image, Gehrig is known to be generous in his private life. He regularly gives his time to the St Kilda mission and opens his restaurant for those who are disadvantaged. He also appeared on the Sacred Heart Foundation television commercial. Gehrig is free with his time for young football fans, always willing to help them out and sign autographs.