Todd McHardy
Encyclopedia
Todd McHardy is a former Australian rules football
er who played for Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
in the Essendon District Football League
, McHardy played for the Western Jets
in the under-18 TAC Cup
competition. In conjunction with playing for the Jets, McHardy also represented the Victorian Metro team at the 1994 AFL National Under 18 Championships
. Known throughout his junior career as quick half-forward who could take a good mark, McHardy was drafted by Melbourne with the 76th selection in the 1994 National Draft
, with Melbourne coach Neil Balme
stating that the club had placed "an emphasis on speed" when considering who to select in the 1994 Draft.
. Playing as a forward pocket
, McHardy had an average AFL debut, gathering nine possessions in a losing side. He retained his place in the team for the next two matches, even kicking a goal in round 8 against Hawthorn
, but was dropped back to the reserves after a possessionless performance against Essendon
in round 9. McHardy was unable to break back into the senior team and finished 1996 with three AFL matches.
In 1997, McHardy again began the season playing with the reserves. He injured his hand in April and missed a month of football as a result. After recovering, he was named in the squad for Melbourne's match against Adelaide, but was not required to play. Two weeks later, McHardy played his first match of the season in Melbourne's loss to the Brisbane Lions
. He kept his place in the side for the Demons' next match against Hawthorn, but was omitted the following week. After managing only five games in three years at the club, Melbourne delisted McHardy at the conclusion of the 1997 season.
, but no team chose to select him. McHardy subsequently played for Williamstown Football Club
in 1998.
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 Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Australian 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...
(AFL).
Early life
Originally from Keilor ParkKeilor Park Football Club
Keilor Park Football Club is an Australian rules football club located 20 km north west of Melbourne in the suburb of Keilor Park and was founded as a junior club in October 1974 when residents met to establish a local football, basketball, and netball sporting club.Club colours were chosen...
in the Essendon District Football League
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
, McHardy played for the Western Jets
Western Jets
The Western Jets Football Club are an Australian rules football club who play in the U18 competition, the TAC Cup. The club have developmental squads in the U15 and 16 age groups, however much of the attention is towards its U18 team....
in the under-18 TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
competition. In conjunction with playing for the Jets, McHardy also represented the Victorian Metro team at the 1994 AFL National Under 18 Championships
AFL National Under 18 Championships
The NAB AFL Under 18 Championships are the annual national Australian rules football championships for players aged 18 years or younger. The competition is seen as one of the main pathways towards being drafted into a team in the fully professional Australian Football League...
. Known throughout his junior career as quick half-forward who could take a good mark, McHardy was drafted by Melbourne with the 76th selection in the 1994 National Draft
1994 AFL Draft
The 1994 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 1994 there...
, with Melbourne coach Neil Balme
Neil Balme
Neil Allen Balme is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1969 and 1979 for the Richmond Football Club.-Playing career:...
stating that the club had placed "an emphasis on speed" when considering who to select in the 1994 Draft.
AFL career
McHardy injured his knee playing for Melourne's reserves team in the 1995 pre-season, and after recovering from the injury, was unable to break into Melbourne's senior side for the rest of the season, instead playing every match in the reserves. After starting the 1996 season playing with the reserves, McHardy was called up for his first senior match in round 7, against SydneySydney 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...
. Playing as a 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...
, McHardy had an average AFL debut, gathering nine possessions in a losing side. He retained his place in the team for the next two matches, even kicking a goal in round 8 against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
, but was dropped back to the reserves after a possessionless performance against 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 round 9. McHardy was unable to break back into the senior team and finished 1996 with three AFL matches.
In 1997, McHardy again began the season playing with the reserves. He injured his hand in April and missed a month of football as a result. After recovering, he was named in the squad for Melbourne's match against Adelaide, but was not required to play. Two weeks later, McHardy played his first match of the season in Melbourne's loss to the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
. He kept his place in the side for the Demons' next match against Hawthorn, but was omitted the following week. After managing only five games in three years at the club, Melbourne delisted McHardy at the conclusion of the 1997 season.
Post-AFL career
After being delisted, McHardy nominated for the 1997 National Draft1997 AFL Draft
The 1997 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1997 Australian Football League season. A pre-season draft was also held prior to the 1998 season....
, but no team chose to select him. McHardy subsequently played for Williamstown Football Club
Williamstown Football Club
The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
in 1998.
External links
- Todd McHardy's profile at the Official AFL Website of the Melbourne Football Club