Brad Hardie
Encyclopedia
Bradley John "Brad" Hardie (born 10 October 1962) is a former Australian rules football
er and current radio commentator. He began his career as an attacking back pocket
player, but ended as a dangerous goal kicking forward pocket
. He was always easily spotted on the field with bright red hair and his trademark long sleeve jumper, hiding the scars from serious burns that he received as a child. He won the 1985 Brownlow Medal
.
in the WAFL
in 1979 as a 16 year old. The following year he was a member of their premiership team. Starting the game on the interchange bench, he was a major contributor with three goals.
In 1982 Hardie was awarded the AW Walker Medal for the fairest and best player for South Fremantle. In 1984 Hardie was appointed captain of South Fremantle and also was the equal leading goalkicker. Representing Western Australia, he won both the Simpson Medal for the best player in the WA vs Victoria State of Origin
game and the Tassie Medal
for the best player in the State of Origin series and was named in the Australian side that toured Ireland. He would repeat each of these feats in 1986. He is the only player to be awarded two Tassie Medals.
in his first season. However, a falling out with the coach, Mick Malthouse
the following season meant that he severed ties with the club at the end of 1986.
In 1990 Footscray attempted to woo him back to the club and even made out a $50,000 cheque to his then fiancee. This ended in shambles and he was banned from playing with Footscray Football Club until 1993.
, he was one of the few big name signings for the Brisbane Bears
in their inaugural season in 1987 and stayed with the club until 1991. He was leading goalkicker for the Bears in 1989 and 1990 and set a record of 9 goals in a game against Carlton in 1989. He was the first player to play 100 games for Brisbane.
, Hardie was traded to Collingwood
at the end of 1991, but only managed to play 2 matches in 1992.
After returning to Perth in 1993 he rejoined South Fremantle and again topped the goalkicking list. He would retire having played 297 senior games, 150 in the VFL/AFL, 139 for South Fremantle in the WAFL and 8 state games.
He was drafted by the Sydney Swans
in the mid-year draft of 1993, but did not play a game for the club.
radio station 6PR
. He also writes a weekly feature article for the Sunday Times
.
After initially living in Perth, Hardie now lives in Melbourne and works exclusively for 882 6PR. He co-hosts Sport Central with Karl Langdon
and Adrian Barich
, and is an expert commentator for the Melbourne matches.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and current radio commentator. He began his career as an attacking back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
player, but ended as a dangerous goal kicking forward pocket
Forward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
. He was always easily spotted on the field with bright red hair and his trademark long sleeve jumper, hiding the scars from serious burns that he received as a child. He won the 1985 Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
.
South Fremantle career
Hardie made his league debut for South Fremantle Football ClubSouth Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
in 1979 as a 16 year old. The following year he was a member of their premiership team. Starting the game on the interchange bench, he was a major contributor with three goals.
In 1982 Hardie was awarded the AW Walker Medal for the fairest and best player for South Fremantle. In 1984 Hardie was appointed captain of South Fremantle and also was the equal leading goalkicker. Representing Western Australia, he won both the Simpson Medal for the best player in the WA vs Victoria State of Origin
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
game and the Tassie Medal
Tassie Medal
The Tassie Medal was awarded to the outstanding player at each Australian rules football Interstate Carnival or Australian interstate championship series held between 1937 and 1988 with the exception of the 1975 knock-out series....
for the best player in the State of Origin series and was named in the Australian side that toured Ireland. He would repeat each of these feats in 1986. He is the only player to be awarded two Tassie Medals.
Footscray career
After 117 games for South Fremantle, he transferred to Footscray Football Club for the 1985 season and claimed the Brownlow MedalBrownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
in his first season. However, a falling out with the coach, Mick Malthouse
Mick Malthouse
Michael "Mick" Malthouse is a former Australian rules footballer and the former coach of the Collingwood Football Club.While his playing career included a premiership for Richmond in the VFL, he is best known for his Australian Football League coaching career.Malthouse is the most successful coach...
the following season meant that he severed ties with the club at the end of 1986.
In 1990 Footscray attempted to woo him back to the club and even made out a $50,000 cheque to his then fiancee. This ended in shambles and he was banned from playing with Footscray Football Club until 1993.
Brisbane career
Rejecting an offer to return home and join the newly formed West Coast EaglesWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
, he was one of the few big name signings for the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
in their inaugural season in 1987 and stayed with the club until 1991. He was leading goalkicker for the Bears in 1989 and 1990 and set a record of 9 goals in a game against Carlton in 1989. He was the first player to play 100 games for Brisbane.
Collingwood career
With dramatic off-field problems at Brisbane, involving company collapses, rescues and restructures and on-field failure with consecutive wooden spoonsWooden spoon (award)
A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...
, Hardie was traded to Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
at the end of 1991, but only managed to play 2 matches in 1992.
After returning to Perth in 1993 he rejoined South Fremantle and again topped the goalkicking list. He would retire having played 297 senior games, 150 in the VFL/AFL, 139 for South Fremantle in the WAFL and 8 state games.
He was drafted by the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the mid-year draft of 1993, but did not play a game for the club.
Media career
Hardie retired in 1994 and joined the media as a sports talkback radio host and commentator with PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
radio station 6PR
6PR
6PR, known as 882 6PR, is a commercial radio station based in Perth, Australia. Its focus is on news, talk and sport, and is Perth's only commercial talkback radio station. 6PR is owned by Fairfax Media, an Australian media company that owns television and radio businesses throughout Australia and...
. He also writes a weekly feature article for the Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (Western Australia)
The Sunday Times, owned by News Limited, is a tabloid Sunday newspaper printed in Perth and distributed throughout Western Australia.-History:...
.
After initially living in Perth, Hardie now lives in Melbourne and works exclusively for 882 6PR. He co-hosts Sport Central with Karl Langdon
Karl Langdon
Karl John Langdon is a leading sports commentator and radio personality in Western Australia and a former Australian rules footballer with the Subiaco Football Club and the West Coast Eagles.- Early life :...
and Adrian Barich
Adrian Barich
Adrian "Barra" Barich is a sports presenter for television and radio, and a former Australian rules footballer and rugby league player...
, and is an expert commentator for the Melbourne matches.