Born Geelong, Victoria November 3, 1848 – died North Carlton, Victoria October 28, 1929

At Carlton

matches (unknown), goals unknown 1872-’79 & ’83

Vice-Captain 1875

Captain 1876-’79

Premiership player 1873, ’74 & ’75, and 1877 (VFA)

President 1914-’24

Vice-President 1893

John Gardiner represented the Carlton Football Club as a senior player and captain through the Challenge Cup competition and early VFA years. Though his games and goals tallies are not recorded, he was acknowledged as a rover/centreman with the adaptability to play back and the wherewithal to lead. In 1875 a journalist wrote of Gardiner: “A splendid runner with the ball, dodges and kicks well, his style much admired”.

In mid-1878, Gardiner represented Carlton in both the Waratah and Australian football exhibition games on the MCG.

The following year, prior to the intercolonial match with South Australia, he was named Victoria’s first captain on the unanimous vote of the team.

Gardiner later served Carlton as Vice-President and President, and as a Victorian State Parliamentarian and as a local alderman. Listed high amongst Gardiner’s many achievements in political life were his formulation of the bill allowing for the eight-hour working day, together with Alfred Deakin, later Australia’s second Prime Minister.

“He (Gardiner) was a famous footballer in his youth. He was one of Carlton’s first captains and his play was characterized by determination and skill,” reported The Herald at the time of Gardiner’s passing.

“All his life he had taken a very keen interest in the welfare of the Carlton Football Club and for some time was president.”

Gardiner’s two sons Jack and Vin would also represent the old dark Navy Blues as senior players.

At Princes Park, the old grandstand which bears John Gardiner’s name faces the city to which this Carlton footballer, President, watchmaker, auctioneer, state parliamentarian and alderman dedicated more than half his life.

In the 1932 Carlton Annual Report it was noted that the old brick stand, built in two stages in 1906 and ’09, the stand, was “now known as the Gardiner stand, in memory of the late Alderman Gardiner”.