Like several other clubs, the Tigers still have a host of players set to come out of contract at the end of this season, including free agent Tyrone Vickery, David Astbury, Jake Batchelor, Reece Conca, Ben Griffiths, Ivan Maric, Liam McBean and Andrew Moore.
Asked whether some players would be playing for their careers over the final two rounds of the home and away season, Hardwick said players played for their careers on a weekly basis.
"It's a tough game, it's a cut-throat industry," the Tigers coach said.
"Those decisions get made at the end of the season from our point of view and basically every club's point of view, I suppose."
The 13-placed Tigers face St Kilda at the MCG on Saturday and the Sydney Swans at the SCG in round 23 before their season ends ahead of the finals for the first time since 2012.
Hardwick said the Tigers had not lost focus despite knowing for some time they couldn't make the finals, with the players and coaching staff keen to use the remainder of the season as a springboard for 2017.
"Although we can't make finals this year we've got to prepare as though we [will] next year, so Trent (Cotchin) has done a wonderful job, the coaching staff are doing a terrific job in trying to achieve some things that we're looking forward to taking into next year," Hardwick said.
"To see players in some different positions, to trial a couple of things … that's a challenge for our players.
"We're looking at things that may take us forward including personnel, so there's going to be a couple of changes and we look forward to seeing some of those players having the chance to shine in the next two weeks."
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-08-18/cloke-a-tiger-hardwick-refuses-to-comment
