Douggie Hawkins view on the subject....

Mick Malthouse was wrong to overlook Brad Hardie - Doug Hawkins
The Herald Sun
Mark Stevens | June 09, 2009

BULLDOGS great Doug Hawkins defended former teammate Brad Hardie, declaring he should have been a no-brainer for Mick Malthouse's best team. "I'm not talking best 22. Best 18," Hawkins said last night.

"In my opinion, Brad had the same impact in two years under Mick as some took six to 10 years to achieve."

Hardie branded Malthouse a "tosser" after he left him out of not only his best side, but also an "alternative" team of 31 players.

Malthouse was asked by the Sunday Herald Sun to name the best players he has coached in a decorated career with Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood.

Jim Edmond's omission also raised eyebrows given he captained the Dogs to a preliminary final in 1985, but the snub of Hardie opened old wounds.

"If it is his favourite team, that is fine, I am not going to be in his favourite team. If it his best team, yes I should be in it," Hardie said on Perth's radio 6PR on Monday.

"The bloke is a tosser and there are a lot of people in the industry that think it, but don't have the balls to say it."

Hardie won a Brownlow in 1985 under Malthouse and followed it with a club best-and-fairest in 1986.

But the relationship soured in Round 21, 1986, when Hardie waved his jumper at the coach's box after being dragged.

The attacking back-pocket player left for Brisbane, but Hawkins said his influence should be remembered.

"He was in the best three or four I played with," Hawkins said.

"We're friends, but I thought he was a good team bloke.

"The people of the western suburbs loved him. He had that knockabout element.

"No doubt, Mick and Brad aren't talking and it is sad. They are three-quarters dead. Let's move on. Life is too short."

Hawkins said he had no problem with Malthouse, who placed him on a half-back flank in his best team.

"He was a very good coach, but when Brad took his jumper off, that was the last straw," Hawkins said.

"Brad went to Brisbane. They couldn't come to a compromise."

Hawkins said Hardie had for years been unfairly criticised for allowing Leigh Matthews to cut loose in the final term of the 1985 preliminary final as Hawthorn stormed home.

"Brad's performance was outstanding that day. You've got to remember Matthews was moved off him," Hawkins said.

"But Matthews was never beaten and came back on. A couple of the goals nobody could have done anything about."