Career
Hardy played with North Melbourne in the for over a decade where he formed a strong ruck combination with Syd Barker. At just 157 cm and 54 kg Hardy is one of the smallest players to ever play at a top level He captained the club in 1914, and served as a brilliant rover helping North to premiership victories in 1910, 1914, 1915 and 1918.
Hardy left the club along with many of his teammates upon the temporary disbanding of North Melbourne in 1921, and joined in the VFL.
Hardy made his senior VFL debut in Round 10 of the 1921 season he was aged 34 and became the oldest player in the history of the league to make his debut.
In 1921 he also represented Victoria at the Perth Carnival. Hardy continued to be a leading player for, playing in both the 1923 and the 1924 premiership teams.
Hardy retired at the end of the 1925 VFL season, aged 38, becoming the oldest player to play a VFL match for
Hardy started his coaching career at club Coburg and coached them to premierships in 1926 and 1927, the club"s first two. This effort saw him rejoin in 1928 as their non playing coach and he spent three years in this role with the Bombers, narrowly missing the finals on each occasion.
In 1931 he crossed to Street Kilda and was coach for two seasons, with little success.