Blake Hardwick will line up for the 200^th time in the brown and gold when he takes to the field against Essendon this Friday night at the MCG.

An East Doncaster product, Hardwick was drafted at Pick 44 in the 2015 National Draft and got his opportunity at AFL level the following year, making his debut in Round 19 against Carlton.

During his early years, he showed his potential at both ends of the ground. After initially being drafted as a forward, he made his mark as defender. He was named a Rising Star nominee in 2017 and awarded Hawthorn’s Most Promising Player in 2018.

The versatile Hawk has demonstrated reliability and durability during his valuable career to date, with his 200th game to come from a possible 211 since his debut.

His first continuous run lasted 65 games. That came to an end in Round 1 of 2020 due to a pectoral injury, before the season was paused due to COVID. Since 2017, Hardwick’s missed just three games. His current streak will see him play his 103rd consecutive match this Friday night, having lined up in every game since Round 19, 2021.  

Hardwick is still one of the games most underrated players, but his importance to the brown and gold is not lost on his teammates, coaches and the Hawthorn faithful.

In 2022 he was named Hawthorn’s Most Courageous Player, recognised for being a solid competitor week in, week out. Hardwick has been at the top end of the clubs’ Peter Crimmins Medal count on numerous occasions, finishing Runner-Up in 2018 and 2021, and coming in fifth place in 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2025.

2024 was a memorable year for Hardwick, after he was recognised as a Hawthorn Life Member, as well as signing a five-year extension to remain a Hawk until at least the end of 2029.

And who could forget his back-to-back Adelaide Oval performances in 2024, doubling his career goal tally in just two games at the venue. In Round 4 he kicked an equal career-high four majors against Collingwood, and in Round 10 went one better, with a career-high five goals against Port Adelaide, with the latter earning him his first ever pair of Brownlow votes.

His 2026 season is already off to an exciting start, having played for Victoria in the State of Origin team.

Speaking to the media in a press conference ahead of his milestone game, Hardwick reflected on his journey and what he hopes is to come.

“It’s been ten years, nearly 11 years now,” he said. “I’ve been saying it goes so fast, faster than you think. It’s been an amazing ride, but we haven’t got to the ultimate success yet and that’s something I’m keen to do, we got close last year but hopefully go a step better this year.”

Hardwick detailed the excitement ahead of Friday night’s clash with Essendon.

“We get up for these kinds of games, you get up for every game, but it’s pretty cool to play on a Friday night, 90,000. I guess all those things just come into the rivalry, the crowd, it’s pretty cool to play in those games and it’s kind of like playing in a final. We have the Easter Monday game too, they’re just really cool games to play in and to be part of the club to experience that is pretty special.”

Watch Hardwick’s full press conference below.