This weekend the Club celebrates Jeff Hardman’s 100th open-age game for the Pennant Hills Demons.
Over a football career spanning more than five decades Stix, by his own reckoning, has a lifetime games tally exceeding 650 … and counting.
He joined Pennant Hills in 2015, playing a mix of lower grades and more recently Masters. He was a premiership player in the 2016 Men’s Division Five Grand Final when Penno beat UNSW/ES Bulldogs by 11 pts.
Before coming to Penno he had two stints at Macquarie University in 1994–97 and 2000–2015 amassing over 300 games.
Over his football journey he’s played with numerous other clubs. These include, in NSW, Holroyd-Parramatta, North Shore and Baulkham Hills, Crib Point in Victoria, Centrals in South Australia and Tracy Village in Northern Territory.
As a retired navy veteran, Stix’s footy resume also includes 80+ games in an assortment of Navy competitions including state representative football in Defence Interservice carnivals.
Stix loves footy, a passion that continues today, proven by the fact that he’s still playing in his mid-50s. His footy career started in 1973, as a 6 year old playing in the Claremont Mini League in Hobart, Tasmania.
When he was 12 years old, a typical week in the 1980s, included mid-week school footy (Primary and High School), junior club footy on Saturday then “shooting off” to play Ressies with his dad, who was Captain/Coach of Tunnack FC Reserve grade side.
Stix is a right footer and his years of experience means he has all the skills and a great footy brain (if not the speed he once had).
As a youngster he played on the wing before moving into the centre when playing at his peak. These days he spends most of his time in the back pocket where he is an important part of the Penno Masters defensive set-up.
He’s a genuine team player, recognised twice as the Best Team Man in 2020 and 2016. He is a canny player, reads the game well enabling him to compete against opponents almost half his age.
Stix played with Terry Thripp at North Shore and played against Maurice Rioli in the NT.
His most memorable moments include playing with his brothers as adults for Tunnack in 1994 and playing with “Twig”, his son Liam, in the Men’s Division Three’s first win in 2021 against Sydney University by 27 pts.
He’s also had the opportunity to share a beer with sporting royalty, Ron Barassi, after a Swans match at the SCG.
Stix had his senior debut (Second Division) for Holroyd-Parramatta in 1987, unfortunately losing to St George.
To round things out, Stix has been the coach of many of last year’s crop of Under 19s, from Auskick through to the end of juniors.
Stix is a respected member of the footy club and always puts the club and team first. He is a strong voice on the field, using his years of experience to direct play and encourage his teammates.
He’s always willing to help out and do his bit at the Club when things need to be done.
We wish Stix all the best in his 100th game.
Go Penno!
Footnotes:
1. Terry Thripp played 44 games for Pennant Hills 1980–82 & 1986. In 1983 he was drafted to Sydney Swans. Over an 8
year career at the Swans he played 78 games and kicked 43 goals. His brother Paul Thripp played 126 games for Penno
and his younger brother Gerard played with Penno Juniors. Father to Terry, Paul and Gerard, Bill Thripp, played for
Collingwood in the VFL (1959-62) and was Senior Coach of Pennant Hills in 1979.
2. Maurice Rioli was born on Melville Island in the Northern Territory and played 118 games for Richmond in the VFL
1982-87.
Written & compiled by John Acheson for PHAFC, Saturday, 19 April 2025
