Dustin Martin underlined his importance to Richmond by taking apart a potential free agency suitor in North Melbourne on Saturday night.
The Tigers superstar was brilliant throughout at Etihad Stadium but elevated his game even higher in a blistering six-goals-to-one third-quarter that set up the 14.17 (101) to 9.12 (66) win.
If Martin is the target of a North Melbourne free agency poaching raid, as has been widely reported, the Kangaroos will need to up their offer on the evidence of his 38-possession, two-goal game.
North couldn't combat the bullocking midfielder's trademark strength, but Martin also wowed the 36,100-strong crowd with breathtaking disposal by foot.
"It was a pretty impressive game," Hardwick said of Martin.
"I thought Trent (Cotchin), our captain, was also outstanding as well.
"His pressure ... he had 11 tackles, and his physicality around the contest, his possessions at crucial stages were good.
"And Dustin's just had a wonderful season thus far.
"We know those guys are really quality players.
"We expect them to play well in big games and they did tonight."
Martin will travel to New Zealand to visit with his deported father during the Tigers' bye round.
While Martin starred, he had ample support from Cotchin, Dion Prestia, Bachar Houli and Brandon Ellis - who all had 30-plus possessions.
The Tigers enter their bye sitting in fourth spot on the ladder with seven wins and four losses.
Hardwick also reaches the halfway point of his team's season confident he has one of the most balanced line-ups of his eight-year coaching tenure at Punt Road.
"We've got a nice complement of inside players and we've got some really classy outside players who are starting to (emerge)," he said.
"We probably haven't had the leg speed (in the past) and they complement our inside players really well.
"We're starting to see those players come through, which is exciting for us.
"We're not a high possession side but if we see a guy one-on-one up forward we like to reward them. We back in those guys to win the contest and go again."
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