PERSISTENCE seems to be the theme of Charlie Gardiner’s life.

For six seasons he persisted with Geelong where he managed just 51 senior games.

He also persisted with his drive from home to training, commuting from Richmond to Geelong throughout 2007, and he has persisted with his law/commerce degree for eight years and counting.

"It has been a marathon," Gardiner said of his part-time studies at the University of Melbourne.

"I’ve got about eight subjects to go and hopefully I can be done by next year barring any unforeseen fails."

Gardiner doesn’t know what he wants to do after he finally graduates, but for now he is enjoying having his entire life based in the one city, which hasn’t been the case since he was drafted in 2001.

"It wasn’t ideal, so I suppose in that respect the move to the Saints has been good because less time in the car means more hours in the day," he said.

But Gardiner is still thankful of the Cats who were set to delist him until he and Steven King were dealt to the Saints in return for pick 90 in a last-minute trade that clearly offered no benefit to Geelong.

"They were very good to me in that respect," he said. "Who knows where I would have ended up? They did the right thing and worked hard to get me a trade, so I’m very grateful to them and also to the Saints for showing a bit of faith.

"As it turns out at Geelong I wasn’t getting the opportunities that I needed. They were playing so well and they won 15 straight so you couldn’t argue with the fact they weren’t making changes to the side."

Gardiner only managed seven senior games in his final two years with the Cats, but already looks to have built a role with St Kilda in two home and away matches and the entire NAB Cup series.

"The change has given me an opportunity and there is definitely a spot there," he said. "I’ve just got to make sure I keep up my performance levels and play regular senior footy which is what I’m after."

Gardiner was considered unlucky by some to be dropped after the round one win over the Sydney Swans, but he says the demotion to Casey highlighted that he had to prove himself to his teammates and the Saints coaching staff.

"I was happy with how I was playing but I don’t think I was really demanding a spot," he said. "I probably didn’t get on the scoreboard often enough and wasn’t effective enough."

And the 25-year-old is particularly keen to be part of a flag-winning St Kilda side after seeing his Geelong teammates enjoy the fruits of their labour last year.

"Being a part of it but not in the inner sanctum means I was still looking at it from the outside a bit," he said. "Witnessing the celebration and satisfaction that the guys got from their hard work and reaching their goal was something I am very keen to be a part of.

"Footy is a pretty tough game and you work so hard. Unless you achieve that success it is hard to find the satisfaction. I’m definitely keen to get some of that."