Despite being an AFLW veteran and a Kangaroos leader, Dani Hardiman is determined to step up her game this season, and she says she needs to. 

A crucial cog in the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos’ defensive structure, Hardiman played in the first ever AFLW match before crossing to the Kangaroos ahead of the 2019 campaign. Her pedigree in the game is underlined by her second place in Carlton’s 2017 best and fairest, as well as her election to the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos leadership group ahead of the 2022 season, but she knows pedigree alone isn't enough as AFLW rapidly develops.

“The young girls who are coming through almost all had the chance to play NAB League, so their skills are definitely up to scratch,” Hardiman told North Media.

“Every pre-season you have to get better and lift your standards, because the young girls coming in are so much more advanced than so many players were in the first year of AFLW. I think Isabel Huntington from the Bulldogs is a perfect example.

“There are even girls coming in from other codes who have a massive motivation to get to the top level in their sport again.

“You can’t come in with a mentality of ‘I’ve been in the competition for six years or so, I’m safe’. You can’t just step back and cruise through pre-season.

“You have to keep striving because the players coming in now are hungrier than ever.”

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With the addition of Jas Ferguson to the defensive group, and ruck/forward Brooke Brown thriving in defence at VFLW level, North’s backline could have a new look heading into this season.

One constant though, as it has been since the team’s inception in 2019, looks to be the presence of Hardiman deep in the defensive 50, marshalling her defence and flying for every contest that comes her way.

She says the new additions to the defensive unit could make it even stronger than last season.

“Last season Brooke was playing forward but she didn’t get much of a go in the senior side, so she’s worked really hard on her defensive work in the VFL. We’ve also got ‘Ferg’ and (Sarah) ‘Wrighty’ who can slot into the side nicely.

“With Brooke, I think moving from being a forward into the defence means your mentality moves to always trying to take an intercept mark rather than spoil, and Ferg is capable of doing the same.

“The likes of Wrighty can really lock down opposition players as well though. I think everyone can play on forwards of all sizes and we can all swap roles.

“It means we can stick to where we want to play. We don’t have to rotate if a small forward starts playing higher up the ground.

“I think last season we were a bit reliant on certain players playing in certain spots, but this year it feels like we’ve gained that bit of extra versatility in the line, and that will hopefully work well come game time.”

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos' 2022 AFLW season kicks off in front of the Kangaroos faithful at Arden St on Saturday, January 8.