From Hafey to Hardwick

by Elliot Cartledge

Rejuvenation. Repudiation. Renaissance. These are the themes brilliantly chronicled in this newly explored history of the Tigers. From Hafey To Hardwick is the highly anticipated sequel to 2011's The Hafey Years. Covering the tumultuous decades following Tommy Hafey's departure, the book features compelling contributions from Richmond royalty – Cotchin, Roach, Gale, Bourke, Hardwick, Richardson, Deledio, O'Neal, Raines, Northey, Bowden, Jewell, Balme and many others – who revel in the club's successes but do not shy away from its controversies. From the fallout after the '82 grand final to the real reason 'Swooper' Northey quit, to the magnificence of Rioli, Richo and Knighter and what unfolded under Terry Wallace, From Hafey To Hardwick traces the steps of how the Tigers ultimately recovered and shook the AFL competition by claiming three flags.

277 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2026

About the author

Born in Gippsland, Victoria, Elliot Cartledge is a freelance writer and editor. He studied at Monash University and his work has featured in The Age, Inside Sport, Sydney Morning Herald, Inside Cricket and numerous overseas publications.

Cartledge has lived in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Argentina and Corfu. His first commercially-released book, The Hafey Years, was published in 2011, with a second edition following three years later. Footy's Glory Days was published in 2013, while the co-authored Chasing Shadows: The Life & Death of Peter Roebuck was released in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in 2015. A second edition followed 2017.

Chasing Shadows won the British Sports Book Awards book of the year (cricket) and the Australian Cricket Society's book of the year. It was short-listed for the William Hill book of the year and short-listed for the MCC book of the year.

His latest release, Footy's Revolution: The Inside Story of the AFL was released in September, 2018.

Reviews

[J.D]

As a Richmond person there were some pretty harrowing memories dug up from those years in the wilderness. I was too young to understand that a culture that is constantly sacking coaches, annually rotating captains, and routinely having bloody boardroom spills is not a path to success. I just grew up believing it was the Richmond way. No wonder we didn’t win anything. This tome tries to come to grips with why the Tigers fell so dramatically from a powerhouse to a laughingstock in such a short time and the long climb back. Does a good job explaining all the mitigating factors without pointing fingers at those who made questionable decisions that compounded the lack of success. Nice addition to the Richmond Football Club canon.

[Mark Boyle]

Fantastic read, especially if you’re a Richmond fanatic! It’s funny how you remember a lot of what is written in this book and what you have chosen to forget. It brings a whole new perspective to the mighty Richmond Football Club. I have and will always be a RFC member.