Michael Gardiner (footballer, born 1978)

Michael R. Gardiner (born 22 March 1978) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Gardiner, a basketball player in his youth, was used as a tall forward and ruckman by Collingwood, who selected him in the 1997 Pre-Season Draft. He played in the final two rounds of the 1998 AFL season and appeared in five games the following year.