Career: 1987-1989
Debut: Round 7, 1987 vs Geelong, aged 21 years
945th Carlton Player
Games: 54 (16 games at Carlton)
Goals: 23 (17 goals at Carlton)
Last Game: Round 16, 1989 vs Footscray, aged 23 years, 74 days
Guernsey No. 29
Height: 196cm
Weight: 86kg
DOB: 9 May, 1966
Michael Gallagher, recruited from Carlton's Bendigo recruiting zone club Golden Square, played 16 games for Carlton commencing in Season 1987, kicking 17 goals. Standing at 196cm, Gallagher wore the #29 guernsey and was a mobile goal-kicking forward come ruckman.
He debuted on his 21st birthday just a day after Peter Motley's career ending car crash and played his last senior game in the draw against Footscray in 1989. Gallagher kicked three goals on debut, but tragically in his debut season, he was curtailed by a serious knee injury that arguably cost him a place in that years' premiership team. Gallagher was showing very promising signs in his debut season and was doing enough and holding his own to what appeared to be destined for a senior finals campaign season in his debut season with the Blues.
The Blues were starting to feel the squeeze of their salary cap, and just prior to the start of the 1990 season Gallagher and fellow Blues team-mate Mick Kennedy were harshly sacked to make room within the salary cap. Gallagher later transferred to North Melbourne for the start of the 1990 season. He would then play from 1990 to 1992 with the Kangas in which he would play another 38 games and kick a further 6 goals.
Gallagher wore No.53 when he played with Carlton's reserves in 1985.
Career Highlights
1985 - U/19's 5th Best & Fairest1985 - U/19's Leading Goalkicker 56 goals (2nd in the competition)
1986 - Reserves Premiership
1989 - Reserves Most Improved Award