Ralph Gardiner
Essendon
AFL career
8 games3 goals
- Debut
- R11 1920 v MEL10 July 1920
- Most recent
- R6 1921 v CAR11 June 1921
Stats
Bio
Born Balfour Gardiner but known as Ralph, this recruit from North Melbourne in the VFA made a brief transition to the VFL with Essendon in 1920. A handy forward option who booted three goals across his eight senior appearances, he struggled to cement a permanent spot in the side and drifted out of the league after the 1921 season. In a quirk of history, his number 10 guernsey was immediately inherited by another former North Melbourne player, Teddy Gardiner, sparking enduring confusion about a family link despite the two being unrelated. Gardiner eventually moved to Sydney, where his life ended tragically in 1945 after he was struck by a motorcycle while alighting from a tram.
Profile
- Born
- 19 Feb 1897
- Died
- 03 May 1945 (aged 48y 73d)
- Birthplace
- Cudgen, NSW
- Deathplace
- Sydney, NSW
- Height
- 173 cm
- Weight
- 72 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionBorn Balfour Gardiner but known as Ralph, this recruit from North Melbourne in the VFA made a brief transition to the VFL with Essendon in 1920. A handy forward option who booted three goals across his eight senior appearances, he struggled to cement a permanent spot in the side and drifted out of the league after the 1921 season. In a quirk of history, his number 10 guernsey was immediately inherited by another former North Melbourne player, Teddy Gardiner, sparking enduring confusion about a family link despite the two being unrelated. Gardiner eventually moved to Sydney, where his life ended tragically in 1945 after he was struck by a motorcycle while alighting from a tram.