Michael Gardiner
Encyclopedia
Michael S. Gardiner is a former Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
. He played for the West Coast Eagles
from 1997–2006 and the St Kilda Football Club from 2007–2011.
, Western Australia, and played junior football for the Royals Football Club
before heading to Perth
Western Australia to play for Claremont Football Club
in the WAFL
.
.
Gardiner debuted in 1997 at only 17 years of age.
There were big wraps on Gardiner as an emerging ruckman
/forward. He did not disappoint, winning a Rising Star nomination in 1997 and All Australian selection in 2003. However, he was then limited by chronic knee injuries
, and played 18 games in the next three seasons with the Eagles with Dean Cox becoming the leading ruckman in the AFL competition.
were criticised for involvement with a group of alleged Perth underworld figures
. According to allegations the two Eagles players received phone calls from gangland figures both before and after a stabbing and shooting at the Metro City
nightclub. Police questioned Cousins and Gardiner about the incident but they refused to aid the inquiries. The club told the pair that they were on their "last warning" and that their off field behaviour would not be tolerated.
Gardiner's off field lifestyle was often seen as detrimental to the West Coast playing group and, in February 2006, in the midst of the Ben Cousins
booze bus incident, he was dropped to the Western Australian Football League
side Claremont
indefinitely on grounds of poor performance and poor off field behaviour.
On 18 July 2006, Gardiner's playing contract was suspended indefinitely and he was fined $5,000 following his involvement in a traffic accident in the Perth suburb of Scarborough
. While he escaped the accident with only minor injuries, West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett said that it was highly unlikely the club would renew his contract at the end of the year.
winning side – St Kilda’s third pre-season cup win.
Gardiner played in 16 of 22 matches in the 2009 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership
.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final
after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Gardiner played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He played for the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
from 1997–2006 and the St Kilda Football Club from 2007–2011.
Early life
Gardiner was born in AlbanyAlbany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
, Western Australia, and played junior football for the Royals Football Club
Royals Football Club
Royals Football Club or Royals Football and Sporting Club, is an Australian rules football club located in Albany, Western Australia playing in the Great Southern Football League....
before heading to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
Western Australia to play for Claremont Football Club
Claremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
.
AFL career
Gardiner was the number 1 draft pick in the 1996 National Draft1996 AFL Draft
The 1996 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1996 Australian Football League season.The AFL Draft is the annual draft of new unsigned players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.Clubs receive picks based...
.
Gardiner debuted in 1997 at only 17 years of age.
There were big wraps on Gardiner as an emerging ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
/forward. He did not disappoint, winning a Rising Star nomination in 1997 and All Australian selection in 2003. However, he was then limited by chronic knee injuries
Australian rules football injuries
Australian rules football is a sport known for its high level of physical body contact compared to other sports such as soccer and basketball. High impact collisions can occur from any direction, although deliberate collisions from front-on...
, and played 18 games in the next three seasons with the Eagles with Dean Cox becoming the leading ruckman in the AFL competition.
Off field controversies at West Coast
In May 2005, Gardiner and then West Coast team mate Ben CousinsBen Cousins
Benjamin Luke "Ben" Cousins is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his 270-game career with and in the Australian Football League ....
were criticised for involvement with a group of alleged Perth underworld figures
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
. According to allegations the two Eagles players received phone calls from gangland figures both before and after a stabbing and shooting at the Metro City
Metro City
Metro City can refer to:*Metro City , a R&B group*Metro City , a private housing estate and a shopping centre in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong*MetroCity AVM, a shopping mall in Istanbul, Turkey...
nightclub. Police questioned Cousins and Gardiner about the incident but they refused to aid the inquiries. The club told the pair that they were on their "last warning" and that their off field behaviour would not be tolerated.
Gardiner's off field lifestyle was often seen as detrimental to the West Coast playing group and, in February 2006, in the midst of the Ben Cousins
Ben Cousins
Benjamin Luke "Ben" Cousins is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his 270-game career with and in the Australian Football League ....
booze bus incident, he was dropped to the Western Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
side Claremont
Claremont Football Club
The Claremont Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . Its official colours are navy blue and gold....
indefinitely on grounds of poor performance and poor off field behaviour.
On 18 July 2006, Gardiner's playing contract was suspended indefinitely and he was fined $5,000 following his involvement in a traffic accident in the Perth suburb of Scarborough
Scarborough, Western Australia
Scarborough is a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located approximately 14 km northwest of the city centre in the local government area of the City of Stirling...
. While he escaped the accident with only minor injuries, West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett said that it was highly unlikely the club would renew his contract at the end of the year.
St Kilda Football Club
After the 2006 season, the Eagles traded Gardiner to St Kilda with a swap of third round draft picks (No. 43 for No. 59).2008 season
Gardiner played in St Kilda’s 2008 NAB Cup2008 NAB Cup
The 2008 NAB Cup was the Australian Football League pre-season competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 2008 Premiership season began...
winning side – St Kilda’s third pre-season cup win.
2009 season
One of the highlights for Gardiner was in Round 14 when the Saints met Geelong at Docklands Stadium. Gardiner kicked four goals, including one after a pack mark which became the match winner with about 30 seconds remaining.Gardiner played in 16 of 22 matches in the 2009 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals series, winning the club’s third minor premiership
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
.
St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final
2009 AFL Grand Final
The 2009 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the St Kilda Football Club and the Geelong Football Club at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 September 2009...
after qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Gardiner played in the grand final in which St Kilda were defeated by 12 points.