The 21st-century evolution of the AFL has fundamentally reshaped the league football landscape - in part necessitating the exodus of a number of foundation clubs from their traditional suburban heartlands that for so long and for so many defined the Victorian football experience.

Amidst these shifting tides, the Carlton Football Club stands as a rare pillar of geographic continuity; having remained anchored to its inner-city home for the past 129 years, when it committed to the newly-formed VFL as one of eight former Association entities.

Within the confines of the Carlton ground, the Ald. Gardiner Stand also stands. Formally opened in 1909, the old edifice serves as a salient reminder of glory days under Jack Worrall’s watch.

For the past 13 seasons through a couple of thousand training sessions, Carlton Captain Patrick Cripps has readied himself on that hallowed turf, upon which the weathered brickwork of that historic edifice casts its imposing shadow.

History, it must be said, has a funny way of folding back on itself - for Cripps, in preparing to lead his state across the Nullarbor – furthers a Carlton tradition set by Gardiner in Victoria almost 150 years ago.

Though the AFL Record Season Guide only documents the State Of Origin years from 1977 onwards, it’s a matter of record that Gardiner led the first Victorian team ever to take the field almost 150 years before.

Then in the twilight of his on-field career, Gardiner was named team leader in an historic inter-colonial match with South Australia at the long-gone East Melbourne Cricket Ground on Separation Day (which marked the separation of the Victorian and Queensland colonies from New South Wales) in 1879.

The first of two contests, which, took place on the East Melbourne Cricket ground, attracted around 5000 paying customers, resulted in Gardiner’s men winning two goals to nil after Gardiner won the toss – with Carlton’s acknowledged champion George Coulthard adjudged best Victorian player afield.

In captaining Western Australia into Saturday’s twilight AFL Origin match with Victoria at Optus Stadium, Cripps furthers the tradition set by Gardiner all those years ago, and the Carlton footballers who followed – amongst them Paddy O’Brien, Creswell Crisp, Lance Collins, Ern Henfry, Ken Hands, Bruce Comben, John Nicholls, Alex Jesaulenko and Mike Fitzpatrick.

Gardiner represented Carlton on the field from 1872-81 & ’83, during which time he served as Vice-Captain in 1875, and as Captain from 1876-78 (with George McGill) and ’79.

He died 50 years after first captaining the state team, and less than a week short of his 81st birthday, on Monday, October 28, 1929 – the same year in which HCA Harrison (“the father of the Australian game of football”) also died. As a mark of respect to Gardiner’s passing, the City’s flags flew at half mast.

The Carlton Football Club’s annual report of 1929 recorded the following in respect of Gardiner, who as its President served with distinction for 10 years, including the back-to-back premiership years of 1914-15:

“Every year takes its toll of some of our staunch and valued members, and it is with sincere regret that we record the following: Alderman John Gardiner, who was a member of the Club almost since its inception, and one who played an important part in the affairs of the Club, both as player and administrator. In his early days he was captain, and had the honor of leading the first Interstate side, whilst in latter years he was an enthusiastic official, occupying the position of President from 1914 to 1924, when he retired. Although he was a public man, he did not lose his interest in the Club and he was a regular attendant at our games to the last. Reference to his death was made at the meeting of the Australian National Football Council and the Victorian Football League.”