41 Facts About Michael Gardiner

Michael Strickland Gardiner was born on 5 July 1979 and is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club and the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League.

Michael Gardiner made his debut for the club in 1997, and over the next seasons replaced Ryan Turnbull as the club's first-choice ruckman.

Michael Gardiner played for his school, Wesley College in South Perth.

Michael Gardiner then played junior football in Western Australia for the Royals Football Club, before heading to Perth to play for Claremont Football Club in the WAFL.

Michael Gardiner nominated for the 1996 ADL Draft, and was considered a solid chance to be selected in the top 10.

Michael Gardiner was selected by the West Coast Eagles with the number 1 draft pick in the 1996 AFL Draft.

Michael Gardiner debuted in 1997 in Round 4 against Hawthorn, at only 17 years of age.

Michael Gardiner did not disappoint, winning a Rising Star Rookie of the Year nomination in West Coats's Round 19 win over Hawthorn.

Michael Gardiner played 10 games for the season, including his first Finals Match in the semi-final loss.

Michael Gardiner played 14 games in his second season of AFL Football, averaging 10 disposals and 15 hit-outs a game in a season where he appeared in his second Finals Match.

Michael Gardiner's season ending with defeat in the a qualifying final loss.

Michael Gardiner appeared in both Finals Matches with West Coast, including his first Finals win as a Player in the Qualifying Final win.

Michael Gardiner's season ended with a semi-final loss in week 2.

Michael Gardiner had his first 20 plus disposals match against Fremantle in Round 6, kicking 3 goals against Melbourne the following week.

Michael Gardiner was awarded 3 Brownlow Medal votes for his 21 disposal, 31 hit-out performance in Round 11.

Michael Gardiner averaged a personal best 19.6 hit-outs per game for the season.

The 2001 through 2003 seasons saw Michael Gardiner steadily improve in the Ruck, his average hit-outs per season increased from 18.7 to a career best 25.2 per game over the three seasons.

Michael Gardiner was recognised for his improved consistency by being selected in the 2003 All-Australian Team.

Michael Gardiner played limited games in 2005,12 in total for the year.

Michael Gardiner played more forward time and averaged 6 disposals per game and kicked 16 goals.

Michael Gardiner played in all of West Coast's Finals matches for the season, including the ultimately inconsequential 2005 AFL Grand Final.

Michael Gardiner was much maligned for his limited season, becoming a target for criticism from West Coast supporters.

Cousins and Michael Gardiner allegedly received phone calls from the crime figures both before and after incidents at the Metro City nightclub.

Michael Gardiner's alleged off-field lifestyle issues were 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, Michael 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.

Michael Gardiner started his St Kilda FC playing career by competing in the Saints team that won the 2008 National Australia Bank Cup Premiership.

In 2009, Michael Gardiner played in 16 of St Kilda FC's 22 matches in the home and away season, in which St Kilda dominated the competition, qualifying on top of the standings and winning the 2009 AFL Minor Premiership McClelland Trophy.

Michael Gardiner averaged 10 disposals and 20.5 hit outs per game, while proving a threat up forward, kicking 12 goals for the season.

Michael Gardiner played his 150th game of AFL football in the Saints Round 13 match against Richmond, a remarkable milestone for a player who had battled persistent injuries, before being traded by the West Coast Eagles in 2006.

Michael Gardiner then played in the Round 14 blockbuster clash between the only two undefeated sides of the competition - the Saints and the Cats.

In front of an AFL record crowd of 54,444 at Docklands Stadium, Michael Gardiner kicked four goals including the last goal of the game after a spectacular mark in the closing 2 minutes.

Michael Gardiner would receive 3 Brownlow Medal votes in recognition of his performance as best player on ground against the Cats, which St Kilda won by 6 points.

Michael Gardiner played in all of St Kilda FC's Finals Matches including qualifying and Preliminary Final wins over Collingwood and Western, and was selected to play in the 2009 AFL Grand Final, his second Grand Final appearance.

Michael Gardiner played 22 games, the most he had ever played in a single season, during which he averaged 10.5 disposals, 17 hit-outs a game and kicked 10 goals for the year.

Michael Gardiner combined his aggression and mobility around the ground with masterful ruck performances, recording a top three finish in the competition for hit-outs to advantage.

Michael Gardiner kicked the first goal in St Kilda's hard fought Qualifying Final victory over the Geelong.

Michael Gardiner was selected to play in his third career Grand Final.

Michael Gardiner's absence being notably covered by Jason Blake in a tightly contested match.

Michael Gardiner played 52 games for the Saints, during which time he returned to being one of the best ruckmen in the league.

Michael Gardiner was a crucial piece in the St Kilda FC team that dominated the AFL between 2008 and 2010.

Michael Gardiner married Danielle McCann in late 2009 at a ceremony in South Melbourne, with Ben Cousins serving as his best man.