He claimed the Brownlow Medal, only the second player since Haydn Bunton Sr. to win the award in his first VFL season, and the third West Australian after Graham Moss and Ross Glendinning.
Hardie's free-running style of play did not always sit well with Footscray coach Mick Malthouse, a disciplinarian who favoured teamwork over individual skill.
[5] Richmond had employed a blocking strategy to cut off his attacking play from defence, which saw the Tigers take a three-point lead into the half-time break.
During the third quarter, Footscray coach Malthouse ordered Hardie off the field, reportedly frustrated with his lack of defensive accountability on his opponents.
From an individual perspective, Hardie had an outstanding season, winning his second Tassie Medal, Footscray's best and fairest and earning an All-Australian selection.
[8] At the same time, Footscray were preparing to press charges against the newly formed Brisbane Bears over allegations that they were planning to "poach" Hardie.
[9] Rejecting an offer to return home and join the newly formed West Coast Eagles, 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.
With dramatic off-field problems at Brisbane, involving company collapses, rescues and restructures and on-field failure with consecutive wooden spoons, Hardie was traded to Collingwood at the end of 1991, but only managed to play 2 matches in 1992.
[10] In addition to his radio commitments, Hardie also writes a weekly feature article for the Sunday Times and an AFL blog called "Harden Up" for the Sydney Morning Herald.
[12] In November 2007, it was reported that Hardie's Brownlow medal had been seized and offered for sale by a government agency as payment for one of his debts.