DOB: 8 May 1881
Died: 3 April 1967
MFC Debut: Round 1, 1903 against South Melbourne at Lake Oval
Last Game: Round 1, 1908 against Richmond at Punt Road
From: St Juke's/Carlton
Games: 71 (87 total)
Goals: 54 (59 total)
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 20 | 0 | 51 | 28.16 |
The son of a former Carlton VFA player of the 1870s, Gardiner's middle name was also Carlton, and appropriately he first played for the Blues in 1901.
After two seasons Gardiner transferred to Melbourne and played five seasons at the Redledgs, before leaving after the first game of 1908 to coach Tasmania in the interstate carnival. He also coached a TFL representative team and served as an umpire.
In 1909 he joined Cananore as captain and led them to four premierships - including three in a row from 1909 to 1911 and a Tasmanian state title in 1910. He captained Tasmania again in the 1911 Adelaide Carnival. After he playing the first game of 1912 with Melbourne, he left to umpire a season in Tasmania. He returned to Melbourne for a single game at the end of the year.
After the war Gardiner became captain/coach of Cananore, winning premierships again in 1921 and 1922. He spent 1924 as playing coach at North Hobart before retiring from playing aged 42 and served as non-playing coach the next year.
He later coached Kingston, New Norfolk, Hobart High School, Friends School, St.Virgils College and the Cananore seconds. Gardiner was also a well known local cricketer for the Derwent club.
His brother Vin played for Melbourne and Carlton.
| Year | Games | Goals | |
| 1903 | 13 | 7 | |
| 1904 | 15 | 24 | |
| 1905 | 12 | 6 | |
| 1906 | 15 | 5 | |
| 1907 | 14 | 12 | |
| 1908 | 2 | 0 | |
Notes
Official records usually do not show him playing in Round 17, 1908.
Said to have played state football in 1907. May have played for City as well.
Lists
Family
Media
Australasian - 16/05/1908
Herald - 15/08/1908
Argus - 29/04/1909
Mercury - 24/08/1923
Links
Australian Football profile
Blueseum profile
Wikipedia profile