An emotional Damien Hardwick last night wiped away tears after being made a life member of the Essendon Football Club at the Annual General Meeting. Hardwick, along with Steven Alessio, Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri and James Hird were honored with life memberships in front of 200 Essendon members. All were applauded but the loudest cheer was reserved for Hardwick. The 29-year-old Premiership defender was traded to Port Adelaide at the completion of 2001 due to salary cap pressures. A favorite among Essendon supporters, Essendon members last night took the chance to show how much they appreciated his efforts.

Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy presented Hardwick with his life membership. ""My wife won't be happy with me, I didn't even cry at the birth of my two children,"" Hardwick joked as he struggled to address the audience. ""It is hard coming back to see everyone again. You spend so much of your life with these players, you go to their weddings and things like that. This really means means a lot me,"" Hardwick said.

Hardwick flew in from Adelaide late yesterday afternoon to accept the award before heading back to Adelaide. His family has recently re-located to Adelaide after purchasing a house in Glenelg.