The 23-year-old will join Crows teammate Cooper Sharman at the SANFL premiers after deciding the time is right to test himself at state level.

It follows Coolamon midfielder Luke Redfern's decision to play for West Adelaide next year, with Northern Jets product Mitch Maguire following suit after he played in the Canberra competition this season.

It is understood another best and fairest winner Lucas Meline - arguably best on field in this year's AFL Riverina Championship grand final loss to Wagga Tigers - is weighing up whether to stay at Leeton-Whitton or test himself in the SANFL.

Hardie said he had been in regular contact with Woodville-West Torrens coach Jade Sheedy for some time and felt the timing was right after finishing his degree in building and construction management.

Hardie, a Crows junior, played three years for NEAFL club Canberra Demons before returning to Leeton-Whitton this year after the league was cancelled.

"We've been chatting for the last couple of years and it felt like it wasn't the right time with other commitments like uni and work," Hardie said.

"It worked out to be a good time. I've now finished uni and I felt I'd pull the trigger and hopefully play over there for a couple of years.

"The NEAFL obviously got canned and with the new set-up combining with east coast clubs, it's a bit uncertain with how it would look.

"The SANFL has always been on my radar, it's one of the most prestigious competitions in the country and the quality of footy is pretty high.

"I thought it's a great opportunity to test myself against some of the best players in the country."

Hardie said he's looking forward to immersing himself in the "footy bubble" of an Aussie Rules-dominated state.

"I've got a few mates I've played NEAFL with that have been over there (SANFL), they say there's some similarities but some things are at a higher level," he said.

"I'm looking forward to playing in a competition which has a big supporter base behind it, experiencing that bubble I guess and learning off some ex-AFL and quality SANFL players.

"I've been in contact with Jade Sheedy since he's been coach, he got in contact midway through this year and asked if I'd be keen.

"I went over and visited them and another club (last month), they put a lot of effort in and they seemed like a great club so it made the decision pretty easy in the end."

READ MORE