Daniel Harford
Encyclopedia
Daniel Harford is a former Australian rules football
er, and radio presenter and commentator.
, Harford was a Teal Cup captain of Victoria as a youngster. He played junior football for St Mary's in the DVFL, and was recruited from the Northern U18
team by the Hawthorn Football Club
with the 8th overall selection in the 1994 AFL Draft
. His career started off beautifully and while at Hawthorn, where he made his debut in 1995, he made an early impression. He was a hard-at-the-ball midfielder or occasionally, small forward. He hit his peak in the late 1990s when he was almost dominant on the field, his aggression and toughness really shining. He also made regular appearances on The Footy Show
during this period.
In 2002 Harford's career started to slide when he managed just 11 games. He continued to struggle for form in 2003 where he added only another 5 games, and at the end of the year Carlton
decided to give Harford another go, trading pick no 51 for him. Harford could never capture his 1997–1999 form, deciding during a pre-season run in October 2004 to retire from AFL football.
football for Old Paradians in 2005, and returned to the VFL
to play for the Northern Bullants
, with whom he had previously played while on the Carlton list. He was consistently one of the best in the Bullants' minor premiership team, winning the Laurie Hill Trophy as the Bullants' best and fairest, and finishing third in the J. J. Liston Trophy count.
In 2007, Harford moved to the Balwyn Football Club in the Eastern Football League
. He played there in 2007, served as playing-coach in 2008 (winning the premiership that season). After 2008, he retired from playing altogether, and served as non-playing coach for a further three years, retiring at the end of the 2011 season.
in 2005 as a presenter, after his retirement from the AFL and while he was playing in the VAFA. He began by hosting a Sunday afternoon sports show with Robert Shaw
, in 2006 he hosted On the Rise
, a morning weekend program, with Jason Richardson
. He made regular appearances on "The Good Oil", a weekday 12-4 afternoon show, between 2007 and 2009, before taking over the timeslot in 2010 with his own program Harf Time. He has also been involved in the network's VFL (in 2006) and AFL (since 2007) commentary teams.
In 2007, he hosted a car show on Channel 9, "Test Drive."
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, and radio presenter and commentator.
AFL career
Originally from Parade CollegeParade College
Parade College, Bundoora, Victoria, is an Australian Roman Catholic all-lads high school, run under the auspices of the Congregation of Christian Brothers.The school was founded by four Christian Brothers in January 1871...
, Harford was a Teal Cup captain of Victoria as a youngster. He played junior football for St Mary's in the DVFL, and was recruited from the Northern U18
Northern Knights
The Northern Knights are an Australian rules football club playing in the TAC Cup, an under-18 competition in Victoria, Australia. They are based in Preston, representing the northern suburban area of Melbourne....
team by the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
with the 8th overall selection in the 1994 AFL Draft
1994 AFL Draft
The 1994 AFL Draft consisted of a pre-season draft, a national draft, a trade period and a rookie elevation. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League.In 1994 there...
. His career started off beautifully and while at Hawthorn, where he made his debut in 1995, he made an early impression. He was a hard-at-the-ball midfielder or occasionally, small forward. He hit his peak in the late 1990s when he was almost dominant on the field, his aggression and toughness really shining. He also made regular appearances on The Footy Show
The AFL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award winning Australian sports television program, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates.This show, which is dedicated to the AFL and Australian rules football, made its debut on 24 March 1994 at the same time as the other version which relates to the NRL and rugby...
during this period.
In 2002 Harford's career started to slide when he managed just 11 games. He continued to struggle for form in 2003 where he added only another 5 games, and at the end of the year Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
decided to give Harford another go, trading pick no 51 for him. Harford could never capture his 1997–1999 form, deciding during a pre-season run in October 2004 to retire from AFL football.
Post-AFL playing career
Harford played VAFAVictorian Amateur Football Association
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria...
football for Old Paradians in 2005, and returned to the VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
to play for the Northern Bullants
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
, with whom he had previously played while on the Carlton list. He was consistently one of the best in the Bullants' minor premiership team, winning the Laurie Hill Trophy as the Bullants' best and fairest, and finishing third in the J. J. Liston Trophy count.
In 2007, Harford moved to the Balwyn Football Club in the Eastern Football League
Eastern Football League (Australia)
The Eastern Football League is an Australian rules football League, based in the eastern suburbs of metropolitan Melbourne....
. He played there in 2007, served as playing-coach in 2008 (winning the premiership that season). After 2008, he retired from playing altogether, and served as non-playing coach for a further three years, retiring at the end of the 2011 season.
Media career
Harford, known as a bit of a joker during his playing days, joined fledgling Melbourne sports radio network SEN 1116SEN 1116
SEN 1116 , the acronym standing for Sports Entertainment Network, is a commercial AM radio station based in Melbourne, Australia, operating on 1116 kHz...
in 2005 as a presenter, after his retirement from the AFL and while he was playing in the VAFA. He began by hosting a Sunday afternoon sports show with Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw (footballer)
Robert Shaw is a former Australian rules footballer with the Essendon Football Club and coach in the VFL/AFL with the Fitzroy and Adelaide Football Clubs...
, in 2006 he hosted On the Rise
On the Rise
The album spawned two hit singles, including "Just Be Good to Me" and "Tell Me If You Still Care" . A third single, "For Your Love" , was also released-Samples:...
, a morning weekend program, with Jason Richardson
Jason A. Richardson
Jason Richardson is an Australian athlete turned radio presenter.-Athletics career:In 1993, he won the Stawell Gift off the mark of 7.5 meters...
. He made regular appearances on "The Good Oil", a weekday 12-4 afternoon show, between 2007 and 2009, before taking over the timeslot in 2010 with his own program Harf Time. He has also been involved in the network's VFL (in 2006) and AFL (since 2007) commentary teams.
In 2007, he hosted a car show on Channel 9, "Test Drive."