Les Hardiman


Les 'Splinter' Hardiman was an Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the VFL during the 1930s.
Hardiman was nicknamed 'Splinter' and was a key position player for Geelong. A premiership player with the club in 1931 and 1937, he also won their best and fairest award Theo Lewis Cup in 1933.
He represented Victoria 5 times in interstate football and was named on Geelong's interchange bench in their official 'Team of the Century'.
In 1938, Les Hardiman joined Haydn Bunton senior and Keith Shea in transferring to Subiaco, where he added a further 69 league games over the next four seasons. In 1938 he played two games for his adopted state against South Australia, two years later he won the Maroons' 1940 fairest and best award and was also the leading goal scorer with 46 goals.
In 1962, Hardiman was killed in a car accident.
In 1996 Les Hardiman was named on the interchange in the Geelong Football Club team the century.