▁and ▁played ▁mainly ▁as ▁a ▁def ender . ▁ ▁He ▁made ▁his ▁A FL ▁debut ▁in ▁the ▁opening ▁round ▁Western ▁Derby ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 . ▁ ▁In ▁round ▁ 4 ▁of ▁that ▁year , ▁he ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁week ly ▁nom ination ▁for ▁the ▁A FL ▁R ising ▁Star ▁award . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁he ▁had ▁his ▁best ▁season ▁for ▁F rem ant le , ▁playing ▁in ▁ 1 8 ▁games ▁and ▁coming ▁fifth ▁in ▁the ▁club ' s ▁best ▁and ▁fair est ▁award . ▁ ▁In j uries ▁and ▁poor ▁form ▁ham per ed ▁his ▁career ▁after ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁and ▁he ▁played ▁only ▁a ▁further ▁ 3 3 ▁games ▁in ▁the ▁next ▁three ▁seasons ▁for ▁F rem ant le ▁before ▁being ▁trad ed ▁to ▁the ▁West ▁Coast ▁E ag les ▁in ▁return ▁for ▁Daniel ▁Metropol is ▁and ▁a ▁draft ▁selection ▁that ▁would ▁be ▁used ▁to ▁draft ▁D ion ▁Wood s . ▁ ▁His ▁career ▁at ▁West ▁Coast ▁was ▁brief , ▁with ▁only ▁ 9 ▁games ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁before ▁he ▁again ▁succ um bed ▁to ▁injury . ▁ ▁In ▁total ▁he ▁under w ent ▁ 1 2 ▁operations ▁during ▁his ▁time ▁in ▁the ▁A FL . ▁ ▁After ▁being ▁del isted ▁by ▁West ▁Coast ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁season , ▁Hard ing ▁continued ▁to ▁play ▁for ▁Cla rem ont , ▁being ▁appointed ▁their ▁vice - capt ain ▁in ▁ 2 0 0