Kevin Hardiman
Encyclopedia
Kevin Philip Hardiman (24 July 1915 – 2 August 2002) was an Australian rules football
er who played for Essendon
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). He was also an athletics coach and Australian Labor Party
politician.
but could only manage the one appearance that year due to a hamstring injury. The following season, after playing in just three games, he moved to South Australia for family reasons and represented the state at interstate football. A centre half forward and follower, Hardiman spent one further season at Essendon in 1939. He kicked 28 goals, the fourth most by an Essendon player that year, and contributed five goals in a win over Fitzroy
at Brunswick Street Oval
. Hardiman then returned to South Australia in 1940 and captain-coached Norwood
in the SANFL
. Perce McCallum was appointed coach in 1941 but Hardiman continued as captain and steered Norwood to a premiership in the league's last season before the war.
and relocated to Preston
after he returned in 1947. He coached Preston Bullants
reserves team in 1949 and 1950 before turning his attention to athletics. Hardiman was a coach with the Australian athletics team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne.
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 who played for Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL). He was also an athletics coach and Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
politician.
Australian football
An Essendon local, Hardiman made his VFL debut in the 1934 VFL season1934 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1934.-Premiership season:In 1934, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
but could only manage the one appearance that year due to a hamstring injury. The following season, after playing in just three games, he moved to South Australia for family reasons and represented the state at interstate football. A centre half forward and follower, Hardiman spent one further season at Essendon in 1939. He kicked 28 goals, the fourth most by an Essendon player that year, and contributed five goals in a win over Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
at Brunswick Street Oval
Brunswick Street Oval
The Brunswick Street Oval, currently known as WT Peterson Community Oval, also known as the Fitzroy Cricket Ground is a cricket and Australian rules football ground located in Edinburgh Gardens in Fitzroy North, Victoria...
. Hardiman then returned to South Australia in 1940 and captain-coached Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
. Perce McCallum was appointed coach in 1941 but Hardiman continued as captain and steered Norwood to a premiership in the league's last season before the war.
After the war
During the war, he served with the Second Australian Imperial ForceSecond Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
and relocated to Preston
Preston, Victoria
Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:...
after he returned in 1947. He coached Preston Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
reserves team in 1949 and 1950 before turning his attention to athletics. Hardiman was a coach with the Australian athletics team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne.