Australian Football

Brad Hardie is perhaps best remembered for being one of the most highly decorated footballers of all time. A member of South Fremantle's 1980 premiership team, for whom he booted three goals from a forward pocket after starting on the interchange bench, Hardie also won South's fairest and best award in 1982. He won both the Tassie Medal and a Simpson Medal (for Western Australia against Victoria) in 1984 and joined Footscray the following year, causing a sensation by winning the 1985 Brownlow Medal after a series of eye-catching, tear away performances from the back pocket. His fine form continued in 1986 when he created history by becoming the first, and to date only, player ever to win two Tassie Medals. For good measure, he also won a second Simpson Medal after another best afield performance against the Vics. 

A highly publicised contretemps with Footscray coach Michael Malthouse precipitated Hardie's departure from the Western Oval and the 1987 season saw him taking the field at Carrara with the fledgling Brisbane Bears. However, neither there nor with Collingwood, where he spent the 1991 and 1992 seasons, did he consistently recapture his Brownlow and Tassie Medal winning form.

Overall, and perhaps ironically, given the fact that he was the recipient of so many awards, the consensus of opinion on Hardie's career would possibly be that he under-achieved. Nevertheless, during his peak years of the mid-1980s, with his trademark long-sleeved jumper¹, flame red hair, and effervescent dashes out of the backlines, he was one of Australia's most instantly recognisable, and highly talented, footballers.

Author - John Devaney