Hards acted as stand-in captain after Jarrod Roberts was unavailable and the 23-year-old took an immediate liking to the position with a best-on-ground performance.

“It was very good,” the builder said about taking up the captain’s job. I wouldn’t mind doing a bit more of it.”

The Imperials club man has played in the green and white all his life, since he began his junior career in the under 11s alongside his brothers Ryan and Colby.

Last season Hards missed all but the final six games of the season with a broken leg, and he said his main goal was to go through the whole season un-injured.

He has been in sensational form, picking up best-on-ground honours in both games so far.

For more of this story, purchase your copy of Wednesday’s Sunraysia Daily 15/04/2009.