Darel Hart (born 3 January 1964) is a former

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er who played in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and for the

Adelaide Football Club The Adelaide Crows (officially the Adelaide Football Club) are a professional Australian rules football team based in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1990. The Crows has fielded a men's team in the Australian Football League (AFL) since ...

in the

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...

(AFL). From Salisbury North, Hart was recruited to and played with Central District while still a teenager. He transferred to North Adelaide in 1984 and soon established himself as one of their best players, with 'Best and Fairest' wins in 1986 and 1987. Hart captained North Adelaide to the 1987 premiership, under coach

Michael Nunan Michael Allen Nunan (born 12 April 1949) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Sturt Football Club, Norwood Football Club and the North Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), as wel ...

, the same year that he represented Australia in an International Rules series against Ireland. He was a premiership player again in 1991, with a Jack Oatey Medal winning seven-goal haul in the 1991 Grand Final. Hart was recruited by Adelaide in 1991 for their inaugural AFL season and played 18 of a possible 24 games that year, including their opening round victory over Hawthorn. He was also a regular in the team the following season and kicked six goals at the

Melbourne Cricket Ground The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadiu ...

when Adelaide convincingly best Richmond by 110 points in round 20. He continued at North Adelaide in 1993 and 1994 as playing coach. Hart then coached the club from the sidelines in 1995 before returning for one final stint from 2001 to 2003, which ended when North Adelaide claimed the wooden spoon.

References

* * *Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). ''The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers''. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hart, Darel 1964 births Living people Adelaide Football Club players Central District Football Club players North Adelaide Football Club players North Adelaide Football Club coaches Australian rules footballers from South Australia South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees Australia international rules football team players