He made his AFL debut in 2001, and played for Brisbane's reserves team in the winning 2001 AFLQ State League Grand Final.
[1] While suffering from osteitis pubis, he spent the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons as a prolific ball-winner player in the Lions' reserves team.
After a long wait, he was finally recalled to the Lions lineup in the 2003 finals series, and in his fourth senior game of AFL football, he was part of Brisbane's premiership side.
While his schedule to a return was on track, he again injured his ACL during a NAB Challenge game against Collingwood at Carrara on 18 March 2006.
Hadley announced his retirement from AFL football after the 2010 season, at the age of 27.