Michael Gardiner

Michael Gardiner
Personal information
Full name	Michael Strickland Gardiner[1]
Date of birth	(1979-07-05) 5 July 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Albany, Western Australia
Original team(s)	Claremont (WAFL)
Draft	No. 1, 1996 National Draft (West Coast)
Height	199 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	105 kg (231 lb)
Position(s)	Ruckman
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1997–2006	West Coast	129 0(87)
2007–2011	St Kilda	052 0(23)
Total		181 (110)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2011.
Career highlights
AFL Rising Star nominee: 1997 Ross Glendinning Medal 2003 All-Australian team 2003 West Coast Grand Final Team 2005 St Kilda 2008 NAB Cup Premiership Team St Kilda FC Minor Premiership Team 2009 St Kilda FC Grand Final Team 2009 & 2010
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Michael Strickland Gardiner (born 5 July 1979) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from Albany, Western Australia.

Gardiner played for the Claremont Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) before being drafted by West Coast with the number-one pick in the 1996 National Draft. He made his debut for the club in 1997, and over the next seasons replaced Ryan Turnbull as the club's first-choice ruckman. After being named in the All-Australian team in 2003, Gardiner missed most of the 2004 season due to injury. Loss of form and a series of off-field controversies led to him being traded to St Kilda at the end of the 2006 season, having played total of 129 games for West Coast. During his time at St Kilda, Gardiner added another 52 games, including St Kilda's 2009 and 2010 losing grand final teams, before retiring at the end of the 2011 season.