News

Hardingham keen to hit the track

Friday, 4 November 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Versatile defender Kyle Hardingham says he is ready to hit the ground running ahead of what he predicted would be the Bombers’ toughest pre-season to date.

Watch the full interview here on BomberTV →

23-year-old Hardingham, who is recovering from a post-season shoulder clean up, has commenced his pre-season campaign ahead of schedule to bolster his chances for an improved 2012 season.

“It has been almost three weeks since I’ve had my operation so I am now back on the bike,” Hardingham said.

“I’ve got pretty heavy legs at the moment but it’s all coming along really well and I should be running in the next couple of weeks.

“Hopefully, by doing that little bit extra now, I can really push myself ahead of the start of the season,” he said.

Hardingham revealed he was looking for sustained improvement across all areas of his game leading in to the start of the pre-season campaign.

“Personally, while I was happy with last season, there is always room for improvement. I think I improved on a larger scale and I tried to find some consistency to stay in the side for the whole year,” he said.

“As a team, we finished a lot higher than the previous year, but we also didn’t get the result that we wanted in the last game (against Carlton).

“From a personal level, I’d like to play as many games as possible throughout the season and to get the best out of myself, along with the team. I hope to play my role for the team again next year, but across the board there is still a lot of improvement to come.”

A number of players, who are under the direction of new high performance manager Dean Robinson and coach James Hird, have commenced fitness testing ahead of the official commencement of pre-season.

“Dean has pretty much made it clear that we’re going to be sore and pushed to our limits,” Hardingham said.

“A lot of the boys were quite sore after some testing in the last couple of days, and I think that just shows how hard the pre-season is shaping up to be.”

Kicking off his third pre-season campaign, Hardingham said the younger players would be benefit from the challenging and gruelling training programs.

“Pre-season is definitely tough, especially for the younger guys. I think the more pre-season's you have under your belt, the easier it can become to push yourself harder and adapt to the demands of the training.”

“This is my third pre-season and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in to it by completing a full load. Once my shoulder pulls up in the next couple of weeks, we can really go from there.

“As a playing group, we’re all really looking forward to the season ahead. We’re basically counting down the days.”

Click here to purchase your case of the limited edition Dyson Heppell commemorative wine.

PLAYER PROFILE: Kyle Hardingham

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Kyle's a beauty and integral to 2012 and beyond!

- Graham Flynn (posted 4/11/2011 9:05:49 PM)

EI - Are we able to be told what the players are doing at training compared to other years so we can see how much tougher training is. We hear this stuff every year - you can bet every other side in the AFL is training harder than ever before too. Why is essendon going to be better next season?

- Steven Boyle (posted 4/11/2011 9:11:37 PM)

kyle is a big factor in the side, we need him big time ..

- Darren Pigott (posted 4/11/2011 10:49:45 PM)

To kyle and the boys,i look forward to 2012,if most of the guys can get a solid pre season we should be a consistent side next year,i think we just got to manage are soft tissue injuries better,cant wait ,GO THE DONS....

- rocco scamozzi (posted 4/11/2011 11:52:06 PM)

Kyle, I would expect that the WHOLE club would be bleeding about that last game, which was purely and simply unacceptable. This mighty club is SO much better than that, so please use that motivation and history to drive yourself and your teammates forward to far bigger goals! Best of luck mate.

- Graeme Blore (posted 5/11/2011 1:12:29 AM)

Steven they will improve because second year under Hirdy and the game plan will become more second nature to the players. Also a number of our young players will show natural improvement as their bodies mature and get used to playing at the elite level. Your right saying all AFL sides are training hard and yes its not an easy game. If we finish higher than last year, travel better interstate and become more competitive at the pointy end of the season it will be a big step forward.

- John Adlam (posted 5/11/2011 10:11:52 AM)

lets Bring on 2012 lets go dons lets Finish on top bombers

- MARK JONES (posted 5/11/2011 10:19:42 AM)

Guys like Hardingham are essential to our team, especially over a hard summer slog. He's an enthusiastic kid. Love his work.

- Luke Androulakis (posted 5/11/2011 11:31:31 AM)

Good to hear the enthusiasm in this story. Yes Kyle the body & muscles have this amazing "memory" & will step up to what you ask of it, to improve requires the mind to take over when the body says,"NO" Sounds like you have your head around it & Dean seems to be just what we need.

- Gail Taylor (posted 5/11/2011 11:37:11 AM)

Dean Robinson's appointment just might be the catalyst for a real crack next season, going by the comments of some of our players and staff. It sounds like we have jagged one of the best fitness experts in the caper!

- Dennis Green (posted 5/11/2011 12:17:14 PM)

We could all write the PR script that accompanies every pre-season. Same old tired jargon trotted out every year, by all clubs. I would prefer to hear what it is the guys are actually doing and how the testing is going compared to last season.

- Rob Carew (posted 5/11/2011 12:53:38 PM)

Monfries recieved a yellow card last night. Will this effect his cances in Round 1? in Soccer it does. But who cares, Gaelic Footy is over, AFL begins. Hardingham should be in the forward line again. In his first game against North Melbourne, he kicked 4 majors remember?

- al Catraz (posted 5/11/2011 3:41:00 PM)

Red letter day. Not often I agree with you, al, but yes, I think Hardy's a natural forward. However let him play where it most benefits the team, because the guy's a gun.

- alec shiffman (posted 5/11/2011 5:48:04 PM)

Kyle, you have become a improved defensive player as well as a dangerous fwd. Hope to see a bit of both , although we do need you more in the back half . wish you well.

- John Calleja (posted 5/11/2011 10:05:54 PM)

Looking forward to 2012. Being in in the top four next year would be awesome.

- aaron willoughby (posted 6/11/2011 10:39:50 AM)

al Catraz, after that he did little as a forward, like Gumby, usually first hands on the ball but don't hold enough marks, as a defender, he still mostly gets first touch but spoils most of the time instead of trying to mark, he has learnt a lot from Fletch about when & when not to go for the mark, very disiplined as most players like to take the "specky", what he needs are alert defenders waiting for his spoil, at the moment too many want to fly with him and leave the crumbs to the opposition, Lloyd doesn't rate Hardy in our best 25. hmmm

- Mark McLachlan (posted 6/11/2011 11:16:25 AM)

Crammers wants to "hit the ground" running (Sat 22/10/11 forum), now Hardy wants to "hit the track"... Take it easy lads,a long pre season to face up to,no injuries too soon,ya gotta last the distance :-) Go You Mighty Bombers !!

- Noel Shields (posted 6/11/2011 8:18:24 PM)

I agree with what you said Mark we need our players to all be versatile and he did seem to be getting better down back however, their were times when he looked like a fish out of water and a run down forward should have been the call but it was not forthcoming. Surprised to hear Lloyd doesn't rate him in his top 25.

- Rod Hooker (posted 6/11/2011 10:31:59 PM)

Grossly underrated by fans and media alike. Now an integral part of our defence, and gives us that much-needed quick rebound. Add Dempsey to the mix, and perhaps a quicker Heppell next year, and the Dons will be much quicker coming out of defence - which is what is needed if the side wants to become a contender in the years ahead.

- Daisy Graham (posted 7/11/2011 10:19:47 AM)

Might be sacreligious to some, but Lloydy, in the end, didn't count himself in our best 25.

- Kris Bayne (posted 7/11/2011 10:28:32 AM)

Kyle - good stuff..... I thought you had a terrific season, the exception being the Final against the Blues but a number of players did not perform in that game.. The whole team has to lift even more next season because.....

- Victor Tallis (posted 7/11/2011 11:15:46 AM)

I guess I see the "Russell Robertson" in him. High leaping, goal kicking, potentially exciting. Handy, though, that Hardingham can play defensively where Robertson couln't. Should be a bonus having such a versatile player.

- Wesley Hull (posted 7/11/2011 11:36:54 AM)

Kris, or was it he thought he was tooooo good for our team

- Mark McLachlan (posted 7/11/2011 1:29:35 PM)

With a little more polish from the Dream team Kyle could turn out to be a gem.

- Alan De Menezes (posted 7/11/2011 10:32:30 PM)