West Adelaide signs Ken Farmer Medallist Justin Hardy from Central District

WEST Adelaide has signed Ken Farmer Medallist Justin Hardy from Central District.

WEST Adelaide has signed Ken Farmer Medallist Justin Hardy.

Hardy, who booted 59 majors for Central District in 2012 to win the SANFL's leading goalkicker award, signed with the Bloods late last month.

It gives new West coach Mark Mickan the type of towering spearhead Andrew Collins long yearned for while he was coaching the club.

Hardy can also fill holes in defence, in the wake of Ryan Ferguson and Brad Mangan returning to Victoria and Joel Tippett getting rookie-listed, or ruck.

His arrival comes after versatile former Bulldogs teammate Andrew Hayes moved to Richmond from Port Adelaide earlier in pre-season.

"There's no doubt we need someone who has the flexibility to be a key forward and key defender and Justin fits the bill,'' West's chief executive John Kantilaftas said in a statement on the club's website.

"We've lost all our tall defenders during the pre-season so we needed to get some height into that area.

"By having Andrew Hayes and Justin Hardy, that gives us the opportunity to cover that area as well as up forward.

"We are really pleased to have them.''

Hardy has booted 96 goals in 80 games.

He has battled a knee injury since the end of the season but the Bloods expected him to play early this year.

Delisted Brisbane Lions rookie Richard Newell, a hard-running midfielder, is West's other key recruit to date.