Gary Hardeman

Recruited from Moorabbin Technical School, Gary Hardeman was a schoolboy prodigy who notably turned down St Kilda's advances to sign with Melbourne, debuting as a teenager in 1967. While he started slowly, he developed into one of the era's premier centre half-backs, renowned for his stylish, high-marking play and relentless consistency in a struggling side. A rare defender who caught the umpires' eyes, he finished runner-up to Keith Greig in the 1974 Brownlow Medal and became a regular Victorian state representative. His versatility also saw him occasionally thrown forward or into the ruck to plug gaps in the Demons' lineup.

Hardeman's career was interrupted by a controversial transfer saga; after being denied a clearance to the SANFL in 1976, he eventually moved to Sturt in 1978, where he played three seasons and earned South Australian state selection. He returned to Melbourne for a final season in 1981 under Ron Barassi, though injuries limited his impact. Despite retiring as one of the few VFL players to reach 200 games without a finals appearance—a testament to the lean era he played in—his standing at the club is unquestioned, solidified by his selection at centre half-back in the Melbourne Team of the Century.