Hardwick is now considered one of the senior players at the club - a far cry from the days when he spent more time in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Sheeds would always give me a serve. That's fair enough. I had to change my game because it costs you money, your place in the side and costs your team. You can't afford to be missing blokes in important games . . .
People love that.
Hardwick's potential as a senior AFL player was first noticed by the Kangaroos' under-19s coach Denis Pagan. But when Pagan left the club in unhappy circumstances at the end of 1991, Hardwick was also on the outer. Wayne Schimmelbusch was coach and there was a bit going on at the club. Hardwick went to VFA club Springvale, but broke his jaw in his first practice game and was out for eight weeks. I owe Denis a lot.