Eric Arthur Gardner (27 June 1881 – 24 May 1905)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). The younger brother of Corrie Gardner, Eric was a long kicking forward. He played as a wingman and missed out on playing in Melbourne's 1900 premiership side, in his debut season, through injury.[2]

Eric Gardner
Personal information
Full name Eric Arthur Gardner
Date of birth (1881-06-27)27 June 1881
Place of birth Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
Date of death 24 May 1905(1905-05-24) (aged 23)
Place of death Västerås, Sweden
Original team(s) Melbourne Grammar
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1900–1903 Melbourne 39 (13)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1903.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

He entered Trinity College (University of Melbourne) in 1900, where he was a member of the football team that won the 1902 intercollegiate premiership,[3] and also participated in athletics, winning the 120-yard hurdles and coming third in the long jump and at the University sports day in 1902.[4]

Gardner died young in 1905 while in Sweden.

References

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  1. ^ "OBITUARY". The Australasian. Melbourne. 27 May 1905. p. 38. Retrieved 21 September 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
  3. ^ "Football", Argus, 2 July 1902, p. 8.
  4. ^ "Melbourne University Sports", Argus, 3 June 1902, p. 8.
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