blackdiamond
6 Nov 2007, 03:49
Damien Hardwick
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v149/66/63/668067098/s668067098_286618_1081.jpg
Height: 180
Weight: 82
Date of Birth: 18th August 1972
Nickname: Hardwick
Contract Details: Retired at the end of 2004.
Position: Defender
SANFL Club: Glenelg
Recruited From: Essendon (2001 for 31st (Joel Reynolds) and 47th (Andrew Welsh) Selection in the National Draft)
Other AFL Clubs: Essendon (1994-2001, 153 games, 13 goals)
Career Games: 207 (144 wins, 1 draw, 62 losses)
Career Goals: 14
Honours:
1998 Essendon Best & Fairest
2000 Essendon Premiership Side
2004 Premiership Side
For more career stats click here (http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/D/Damien_Hardwick.html).
More info on Damien Hardwick
Originally from Upwey-Racoma he spent time in North Melbourne reserves before strengthening his credentials with VFA club Springvale. Even after making the grade in AFL football he was not sure if it was what he really wanted to do. But when Essendon won the 1993 flag he had just won the reserves best and fairest award and the penny dropped that he could have been in the side if he had wanted it badly enough.
An aggressive, but lightly built defender with plenty of courage who ran foul of the tribunal early in his career. Hardwick had absolutely no fear and was always willing to throw himself into packs, but he admitted that he had to find the balance between what was tough and what was stepping over the line.
He became a lynchpin in the Bomber defence with his unrelenting approach on the ball, and in 1998 took out the best and fairest award.
In the Bombers all-conquering 2000 premiership season he earned All-Australian selection and represented Australian in the international rules series as he did again the following year.
But at the end of 2001 coach Sheedy told him that he may have a more limited role if he remained at the club. Essendon awarded the loyal Hardwick a life membership, but it could not compensate for the pain caused by the parting of the ways. Salary cap restrictions forced Essendon to trade him to Port Adelaide at the end of 2001. He justifiably questioned whether the loyalty that clubs demanded was returned towards the players.
Hardwick’s toughness and hard approach to the game added a welcome element to the Port defence and helped materially in the club’s improvement in 2002. His relentless style added some steel to Port and he continued to be an effective player in 2003.
The veteran had a slow start to 2004 with ankle problems, but in the second half of the year he was a valuable addition to the team, usually starting in the centre and roughing up the opposition. He added the 2004 Port premiership medal to the one he scored at Essendon. After retiring he joined Hawthorn as an assistant coach.
Courtesy of 'The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers' (http://books.buyaustralian.com/featuredbook1.asp?StoreURL=buyaustralian&bookid=9781920910785)
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v149/66/63/668067098/s668067098_286618_1081.jpg
Height: 180
Weight: 82
Date of Birth: 18th August 1972
Nickname: Hardwick
Contract Details: Retired at the end of 2004.
Position: Defender
SANFL Club: Glenelg
Recruited From: Essendon (2001 for 31st (Joel Reynolds) and 47th (Andrew Welsh) Selection in the National Draft)
Other AFL Clubs: Essendon (1994-2001, 153 games, 13 goals)
Career Games: 207 (144 wins, 1 draw, 62 losses)
Career Goals: 14
Honours:
1998 Essendon Best & Fairest
2000 Essendon Premiership Side
2004 Premiership Side
For more career stats click here (http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/D/Damien_Hardwick.html).
More info on Damien Hardwick
Originally from Upwey-Racoma he spent time in North Melbourne reserves before strengthening his credentials with VFA club Springvale. Even after making the grade in AFL football he was not sure if it was what he really wanted to do. But when Essendon won the 1993 flag he had just won the reserves best and fairest award and the penny dropped that he could have been in the side if he had wanted it badly enough.
An aggressive, but lightly built defender with plenty of courage who ran foul of the tribunal early in his career. Hardwick had absolutely no fear and was always willing to throw himself into packs, but he admitted that he had to find the balance between what was tough and what was stepping over the line.
He became a lynchpin in the Bomber defence with his unrelenting approach on the ball, and in 1998 took out the best and fairest award.
In the Bombers all-conquering 2000 premiership season he earned All-Australian selection and represented Australian in the international rules series as he did again the following year.
But at the end of 2001 coach Sheedy told him that he may have a more limited role if he remained at the club. Essendon awarded the loyal Hardwick a life membership, but it could not compensate for the pain caused by the parting of the ways. Salary cap restrictions forced Essendon to trade him to Port Adelaide at the end of 2001. He justifiably questioned whether the loyalty that clubs demanded was returned towards the players.
Hardwick’s toughness and hard approach to the game added a welcome element to the Port defence and helped materially in the club’s improvement in 2002. His relentless style added some steel to Port and he continued to be an effective player in 2003.
The veteran had a slow start to 2004 with ankle problems, but in the second half of the year he was a valuable addition to the team, usually starting in the centre and roughing up the opposition. He added the 2004 Port premiership medal to the one he scored at Essendon. After retiring he joined Hawthorn as an assistant coach.
Courtesy of 'The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers' (http://books.buyaustralian.com/featuredbook1.asp?StoreURL=buyaustralian&bookid=9781920910785)