Fraser Gehrig Biography

Fraser Gehrig suffers a calf strain in St Kilda's pre-season win over Geelong.

Gehrig's injury may prevent the forward from playing in the opening round of the 2008 regular season.

Saints coach Ross Lyon, however, was more optimistic.

"It looks like he has just strained a calf, so it is not ideal, but it won't affect him you wouldn't think for round one," Lyon said.

Gehrig explains why he retired only to be drafted by the Saints again.

"For me, the issue was that I wanted to travel, I wanted to have an extended break overseas, which I probably thought would be a lot longer," Gehrig said.

"Maybe I did that a little bit too harshly, based on how I was feeling at the time. Things have changed and I am ready to go again."

Gehrig said that he only wanted to play for St Kilda. "My heart is at St Kilda. My heart is not anywhere else. I have been here for seven years and this is the only club I wanted to play for."

Gehrig returns to the Saints after St Kilda select him with their 54th pick in the 2007 national draft.

"We thought there's enough upside for Fraser and the club, without compromising ourselves, that we could bring him on board," Saints coach Ross Lyon said.

Gehrig joins three other formerly listed AFL players, including Stuart Dew, Mark Johnson and Kepler Bradley, who have been given a second chance.

A STUNNED St Kilda is undecided if it will take a punt on Fraser Gehrig in Saturday's national draft.

In a surprise move, Gehrig nominates for the national draft while holidaying in Europe despite having announced his retirement just three months ago.

Gehrig signalled his intentions to rejoin the Saints after speaking to coach Ross Lyon and general manager of football operations Matthew Drain.

However, Drain remained uncommitted quoting several possible issues with drafting the dual Coleman medallist. "That's things like our cap position, him being 100 per cent committed and then his body's the other issue."

Gehrig's nomination for the national draft appeared to draw little interest from any of the other clubs apart from the Saints.