North Melbourne youngster Riley Hardeman confident he's ready for Fremantle Dockers clash
The second-year Kangaroo managed three games in his rookie year but has already featured eight times in 2025, working in North Melbourne's defence to provide rebound off halfback.
He played 78 per cent of the clash against West Coast in defence, with two rebound 50s and an inside 50 to go with 236 metres gained.
And after grabbing his first win in his first game back in his home state in Bunbury, Hardeman said he was 'excited' to face Fremantle in his maiden match at Optus Stadium.
'It's good to enjoy the win, but we'll be looking forward to Fremantle at Optus; it's very exciting,' he told The West Australian.
'Being able to crack into this side earlier this year and then finding some consistency with form and just building trust at the level is really good, and I will only continue to improve, I hope.'
Hardeman faces a sterner task this week, likely to face a match-up on one of Michael Frederick, Sam Switkowski or red-hot rookie Murphy Reid.
However, the 20-year-old says that being able to lean on the likes of Luke McDonald and Caleb Daniel fuels his self-belief.
'We've got a lot of experience (in defence) like Luke McDonald, Caleb Daniel that are really strong with their communication, making sure they're putting me in the right spots and they're looking after me,' he said
'Our system is holding up really well.
'(And the come-from-behind win against West Coast) gives us a lot of reassurance we can come back in games.'
The Swan Districts also gave Bunbury a glowing review after the South West's historic day in the AFL limelight, saying it reminded him of his roots and he was already excited to return in 2026.
'It was really fun playing out here in a really good atmosphere,' he said.
'It reminded me a bit of my old home ground at Swan Districts, Steel Blue Oval, just with the wide wings. It was awesome—plenty of room to run and carry.
'It speaks volumes to the support we have out here in Western Australia. I reckon my family was probably a very large contingent of the support, but it's why we came here.
'We have such a large following, and I can't wait to do it again.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
an hour ago
- Herald Sun
AFL 2025: Alastair Clarkson says he can steer Roos' through ‘growing pains'
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson insists he is up for the challenge of leading the Kangaroos through their 'growing pains'. The Kangaroos suffered their worst loss for the season to Geelong last Saturday, succumbing to the Cats by 101 points, and are facing a sixth straight bottom-two finish. Despite collecting more wins than last year, the heat has risen on Clarkson and whether he is developing the raft of first-round picks to compete at AFL level. Clarkson referenced young defender Wil Dawson and how the Roos would persist with him in important roles, like the one he had on Jeremy Cameron for parts last week. The four-time premiership coach said 'it's all terrific learning' for players of Dawson's experience as they pushed through 'growing pains'. 'Three or four weeks ago when (Dawson) played against (Sam) Darcy, it was a real step forward, 'Geez, he can compete with Sam Darcy, that's a good effort',' he said. Wil Dawson competes with Sam Darcy. Picture: Mark Stewart 'Then he has a game against Geelong last week and it's Cameron and (Shannon) Neale and it's like, 'Oh wow, there's 15 goals between them' … it's all terrific learning. 'Some players need that exposure and it's tough to sit through. We don't want to sit through it for too long … it's just some of the growing pains unfortunately. 'Some of the more senior, experienced sides in the competition have already been through those growing pains, we're going through them now.' Clarkson said the question marks on whether he'd developed the young Roos at all were 'all part' of being a senior coach. He doesn't know when it can turn for North Melbourne but is confident it can. 'It's why we do what we do, we love the game and part of the challenge is overcoming the adversity,' he said. North Melbourne players leave Marvel Stadium after losing by 101 points last weekend. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images 'It's a tough job though with any list in the competition and we just keep batting away at it. 'I had some tough times when I was at Hawthorn, 2014, no one would look at it and say, '2014 was a terrific year for Hawthorn, they won the premiership that year'. 'But gee we confronted some adversity. I was out for six weeks with a serious illness, some of our more senior players were missing 10, 12, 14 weeks of footy and it was a really, really tough year. 'It was unbelievably rewarding that even despite the adversity we were able to win – but that's what we're searching for. 'We know this game is tough, whether you're a side that's good and challenging at the top end, it's still really, really tough. 'Having been in the game a long period of time, as tough as it is and it seems like, 'Well gee we're being overly patient'. All of a sudden it will turn and the confidence of the group will rise. 'When that's going to happen, I don't know, but sometimes it can happen really quickly.' Alastair Clarkson has confidence he can turn North Melbourne around. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images Clarkson vows he is still up for the challenge of rebuilding North Melbourne and again uses his time at Hawthorn as proof. 'I love the challenge of it, it's a significant challenge, but I don't see it any different to the challenge when I first arrived at Hawthorn,' he said. 'No senior coach, political turmoil in the footy club, less than 25,000 members and in a very, very quick space of time that club was able to turn itself around. 'I am confident it can be done here as well and I'm enjoying the challenge of it as well.' Originally published as AFL 2025: North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson confident he can steer through Roos' 'growing pains'
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
Former Fremantle Dockers teammate says young players will lean on experience of Nat Fyfe at end of season
A long-time teammate of Nat Fyfe says Fremantle will need the two-time Brownlow medallist's cool head in the big moments on their run to the finals. Fyfe was not named in the Dockers' team to take on Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday and will instead return from his latest injury setback in Peel Thunder's clash with Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday. The 33-year-old injured his calf during a half-time warm-up during his team's round 17 win over St Kilda. Justin Longmuir could take an unchanged side into the match against the under-fire Blues, with no omissions named in the Dockers' preliminary squad on Thursday afternoon. The Dockers continue to take a cautious approach with captain Alex Pearce, but say the full-back is on track to overcome his shin injury in time to play Port Adelaide next Saturday night. Fyfe injured his hamstring early in his first WAFL appearance of the season, against South Fremantle in round two. Fremantle threw him in at the deep end the next time they needed to return him to the side, by bringing him straight back in as the substitute. He will return on managed minutes against Claremont. The cautious approach this time around comes with the club on track to play finals for just the second time since 2015. Michael Walters' retirement leaves Fyfe as the last remaining player from the Dockers' only grand final appearance in 2013. Former Fremantle defender Ethan Hughes said the club's young players will lean on the veteran's finals experience late in the season. 'I feel like they would rather have him coming in for the last couple of weeks, just to try and get some match fitness into him first,' Hughes told The West Australian. 'That element of him having played a lot of football and some finals football in the past is really going to help that side grow. 'Even just his leadership and voice coming from the bench or just assisting guys getting set up in the high-pressure moments, I think that's really going to help the group.' Defender Brandon Walker is one of three potential inclusions and could play just his third game of the season and first since he suffered a serious shoulder injury against Sydney in round two. In-and-out backman Josh Draper has also been added to the extended bench, alongside midfielder Will Brodie, who has been in the football wilderness since early 2023. Former Fremantle player Adam Cerra will not face his old club. He has knee soreness and will sit out, alongside key forward Charlie Curnow — who will have surgery for a knee injury — and retired club great Sam Docherty.
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
One top pick out, one top pick in! Chesser set for return
Out-of-contract West Coast midfielder Campbell Chesser will play his first AFL game of the season this weekend when the one-win Eagles take on Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. It comes as the Eagles prepare to take on seven-time All-Australian ruckman Matt Gawn without their No.1 man Matt Flynn who has been dropped leaving Bailey Williams as the solo ruck. The West Australian revealed Chesser would be named in Saturday's line-up to take on the Demons, having featured in the past seven games for the club's WAFL outfit after an ankle injury in February hindered his start to the season. Chesser had 20 disposals in Sunday's defeat to Peel to put his hand up for his first senior game this season. After being West Coast's top draft selection at pick 14 in 2021, Chesser has been luckless throughout his career at West Coast, playing only 32 games in his four seasons. The 22-year-old midfielder last featured at AFL level in round 24 last year. Chesser's most recent AFL win — and one of only six for his career — came against Melbourne at Optus Stadium last May. 'He's had some challenging years and he's been able to build a platform of eight or 10 games of WAFL football and given himself a chance to finish off the year really strongly so yeah, he gets his opportunity,' Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said. Chesser in action last season. Credit: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images 'There was a period where he just had to play, that was important for him just to string some games together. And then, you know, when he started mid-year, he hadn't played under the way that we're playing our wing roll at the moment. 'So he's learnt that, he's improved in that understanding of the game, and it was a bit about continuity and then building up his form from there.' It comes as top draftee Tom Gross is also set to return to the side to help cover the loss of superstar Harley Reid after his season was ended by a syndesmosis injury he sustained in the western derby. Gross has played six games since he was drafted with pick No.46 last season, with the last of those coming in the round 11 defeat to Adelaide. The 18-year-old is coming off a strong game in the WAFL, kicking two goals from 23 disposals as well as recording five clearances in the loss to Peel. Chesser's pending inclusion means the Eagles will have used 37 players this year. Just three players on West Coast's list are yet to debut at the top level: Lucca Grego, Coen Livingstone and mid-season draftee Jacob Newton. He was joined on the plane by out-of-contract pair Jack Petruccelle and Loch Rawlinson however, both have been named as emergencies. Instead, Hamish Davis and 200cm defender Harry Edwards, who was a late out from the derby on Saturday because of a hamstring concern, have returned to the line-up. Jack Petruccelle is back in the Eagles squad. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian It will be Davis' first game since round seven while defender, Sandy Brock and Jack Hutchinson, join Reid out of the team that lost the western derby to Fremantle. WEST COAST v MELBOURNE Saturday, Marvel, 11.20am EAGLES B: R Ginbey H Edwards T Cole HB: L Duggan R Bazzo T McCarthy C: R Maric B Hough C Hall' HF: J Cripps J Shanahan E Hewett F: T Borckman A Reid L Ryan FOLL: B Williams T Kelly L Baker I/C: M Owies C Chesser T Gross H Davis T Dewar EMG: J Petruccelle M Flynn L Rawlinson IN: H Edwards C Chesser T Gross H Davis OUT: S Brock (omitted) J Hutchinson (omitted) M Flynn (omitted) H Reid (injured) DEMONS B: J Bowey T McDonald J McVee HB: C Windsor D Turner B Howes C: K Chandler C Petracca H Langford HF: J Viney B Fritsch T Sparrow F: J Melksham H Petty K Pickett FOLL: M Gawn T Rivers E Langdon I/C: J van Rooyen C Salem C Oliver H Sharp J Culley EMG: X Lindsay J Adams T Campbell IN: H Sharp J Culley OUT: X Lindsay (managed) C Spargo (omitted)
