St Kilda ruckman Michael Gardiner is almost certain to miss next Saturday's grand final replay against Collingwood with what is understood to be a hamstring injury.

Gardiner sat on the bench for the entire second half of Saturday's thriller as the Saints came from four goals down to draw 10.8 (68) to the Magpies' 9.14 (68).

Ben McEvoy, who was a shock omission from the first clash against the Magpies, is the obvious replacement for Gardiner.

In Gardiner's absence, Justin Koschitzke and Jason Blake did a good job in the second half pinch-hitting against the Magpies' No.1 ruckman Darren Jolly and his sidekick Leigh Brown.

If the 31-year-old Gardiner has torn a hamstring he may well have played his last AFL match after flagging the prospect of retirement early in grand final week.

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