Though born in Melbourne, Hargrave's family returned to Perth WA when he was 1 year old.

Throughout 2002 he grew and developed as a defender and became an essential part of the Western Bulldogs' defence.

In 2003, Hargrave was fined $2,000 and suspended for three weeks by the tribunal after a retaliatory punch Heath Black during a melee against the St Kilda Saints.

[2] After playing only five games in 2011 due to repeated foot and ankle injuries, it was thought that he would be delisted by the Bulldogs' new coach Brendan McCartney.

However, he remained on the list and in 2012 he played eight of the first nine games, reaching his 200-game milestone in round ten.