Len Gardner, the Richmond utility who captained the Under 19s, won a Reserves Best and Fairest, and played five senior games, has died. He was 94.

Gardner died on Saturday May 17th, 2025, his son Mark told Rhett Bartlett.

Born on February 16th, 1931, the passionate Tiger supporter grew up in Burnley, and worked as a truck driver for Lou Arthur, transporting the barley and malt from the wharf to the silos in Richmond.

In 1948 he guided the Under 19s to a Semi Final spot, later won the 1951 Reserves Best and Fairest and managed senior selection that same year.

But by April the following year he was gone, transferred to Box Hill in the VFA along with four other Tigers - Brownlow Medallist Bill Morris, Ron Irvine, Basil O’Rourke (father of current President, John) and Reserves player Keith ‘Bluey’ O’Neill.

Family legend has it that Jack Dyer was unhappy with Gardner’s refusal to ‘rough up’ Carlton’s Ken Hands in Round 14 1951 match, and that put him on the outer.

April 17 1951

Standing 180cms, Gardner debuted at Tigerland as a 20-year-old wearing No.34 as second ruck to Roy Wright in the opening game of 1951. His other matches saw him line up in the forward pocket, half forward, or selected as 20th man.

“He received few opportunities but should develop into useful player,” was how Collingwood champion Harold Rumney described Gardiner’s debut in the Sun-News Pictorial.

He played 21 games for Box Hill, then won North Kew’s 1956 Best and Fairest, played in their premiership the following year, before finishing up at Bena Football Club.

Pre-season fitness training at Punt Road on Feb 12 1952. Gardner in middle wearing white top.

Tigerland summary:
Seniors: 1951 (5 games, 0 goals)
Reserves: 1948-1951 (41 games, 13 goals)
Under 19s: 1948-49 (games unknown)