Australian Football

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Six years younger than his brother Harold, Les 'Splinter' Hardiman was arguably the more gifted all round player of the two. Renowned for his ability seemingly to 'hang' in the air, Hardiman (number 25 in the photo, right, taken during the 1937 Grand Final against Collingwood) could hold down full back, centre half forward and full forward with equal assurance. 

Recruited, like his brother, from Chilwell, he made his Geelong debut in 1929, and went on to play 135 VFL games for the Cats, including the winning Grand Finals of 1931 and 1937, booting a total of 236 goals, and winning the club's best and fairest award in 1933. He also made five interstate appearances for the VFL.

In 1938, Les Hardiman joined Haydn Bunton senior and Keith Shea in transferring to Subiaco, where he added a further 69 league games over the next four seasons. In 1938 he played two games for his adopted state against South Australia, while two years later he won the Maroons' fairest and best award.

Author - John Devaney