Harbrow determined to shine for Suns

[bornadog]

Harbrow will be a star this year

JARROD Harbrow's departure from the Western Bulldogs is perhaps the one that has hurt the most at the kennel over the pre-season despite the retirements of Brad Johnson and Nathan Eagleton.

He is 22 and already ripening into a potential match-winner for Gold Coast this season after being enticed back to his home state by the league's 17th team as an uncontracted player last season.

He was taken in the 2007 rookie draft as a young indigenous talent and development project in which he spent plenty of time at the Bulldogs - then VFL affiliate Werribee - being groomed as a classy forward.

Advertisement: Story continues below Harbrow, instead, blossomed into another of Rodney Eade's success stories mid-way through 2009 during a move from forward to a playmaker role in defence.

He excelled on the scene with strong bursts and delivered in spades throughout last season; in which he was supposedly distracted through contract talks between the Suns and his management.

''Most of the talking was between my management and the Gold Coast and they left me out of it because I wanted to concentrate on playing footy,'' Harbrow said.

''They gave me an opportunity to play AFL football and the coaches and players, I got along with, and I gave as much as I could back to the club. They knew in the end that I wanted to head back to Queensland because of family and all that.

''I knew that my heart was always in Queensland so I knew that I always wanted to finish footy up here and the new Gold Coast club itself was really exciting and played a big part in me coming to the Gold Coast as well,''

He said the move into defence at the Bulldogs helped shape his career as he became one of most dangerous attacking defenders in the game through his scintillating pace.

''When I was playing a small forward role, my main role was to tackle and chase and apply defensive pressure and try and kick goals when I could,'' he said. ''But I found that going down back, I had a bit more freedom to run and carry and use the skills that I had and match up with the smaller forwards. Run and carry is something that I have always had in my game but I just built confidence to be able to back myself and go for those runs.''

The move home - he grew up in Cairns - appears to have helped Harbrow mature. He left a household in the western suburbs of Melbourne living with fellow indigenous Bulldogs Josh Hill and ex-teammate Malcolm Lynch to moved into a new house in Southport with his long-term girlfriend Emma.

He underwent shoulder surgery over the pre-season but has returned to training with the ambition of playing at least one NAB Cup game before the Suns's season-opener in round two against Carlton.

''I reckon I have [matured],'' he said. "It's pretty serious when you move in. You have to manage your time right and you're not just worried about yourself any more. You've got a partner that you have to look after. She's [Emma] very settled up here and she's working and loves it up here as well,'' he said.

He is now looking to unleash in the midfield and provide a strong rebound from defence after the Bulldogs' hierarchy provided the grounding work to his rising career.

''Hopefully I can play more time in the midfield here but obviously we've got a really good midfield here and I think I'm probably suited down back a bit more but long term I'd like to play consistently in the midfield.''

[Scraggers]

Hope he plays well, just not against us ... what do they say in acting circles; Break a leg??

[Remi Moses]

Who ?

[chef]

I'm still pissed off that he's left our club and hope he has no success up there.

[Bulldog Revolution]

He will play well

A very good footballer, and im still disappointed with the compensation we received compared to others - there isn't a single team in the competition that would have traded Harbrow for Campbell Brown

[soupman]

He will play well

A very good footballer, and im still disappointed with the compensation we received compared to others - there isn't a single team in the competition that would have traded Harbrow for Campbell Brown

Hawthorn probably would have.

[LostDoggy]

Wish him all the best, and will cheer for him when we play the GC Suns —*right up to the first bounce, then he's the enemy…

[AndrewP6]

I'm still pissed off that he's left our club and hope he has no success up there.

Part of me agrees, part of me says "He didn't want to be a Bulldog, his loss. He wanted to take the money and run" Like most other opposition players, I don't wish him any success. I hope his team finishes stone motherless last, and he's on holiday from the beginning of September. Now, back to thinking about our team, and the blokes who want to be there.

[bornadog]

I'm still pissed off that he's left our club and hope he has no success up there.

Yep, I am with you.

[Ghost Dog]

Honestly, what do you expect? Queenslander moves back to Queensland, so it goes.

Let's hope his effort in 2010 inspires whoever fills his shoes to go one better than him. He set the pace for the HB line for an entire season. Jordan Lewis agrees.
Maybe the WB can take something away from Jarrod Harbrow. In particular his competitive spirit.

Good luck to him as he fullfills his individual potential while we fullfill ours as a team.

[Bulldog Joe]

Well he set a standard for run from the back.

What the Doggies need is for Easton Wood to step into the breech and provide the run with more penetrating kicking and superior defensive work. We will then cover the departure (not loss) of Harbrow and be a better side.

I wish Harbrow personal success, just not premiership success with his new club, until the Doggies at least bag one or two flags.

[Mofra]

What the Doggies need is for Easton Wood to step into the breech and provide the run with more penetrating kicking and superior defensive work. We will then cover the departure (not loss) of Harbrow and be a better side.

I don't think Easton can cover the rebound by himself (not for a few seasons yet anyway), however Murphy's permanent switch back will mean the load is shared.

If Howard can get his leg-cannon ready for senior AFL this year we will look dangerous on the rebound.

[Bulldog Joe]

I don't think Easton can cover the rebound by himself (not for a few seasons yet anyway), however Murphy's permanent switch back will mean the load is shared.

If Howard can get his leg-cannon ready for senior AFL this year we will look dangerous on the rebound.

Harbrow did arrive from practically nowhere, when he was reinstated in Canberra after being dropped for his poor defensive effort on Matthew Stokes.

Wood has all the tools and has shown an intention to take the game on a few times. With the experience of last year and another pre-season he could really be the BIG improver.

[LostDoggy]

Jarrod will go well & I wish him the best, but a little part of me hopes that he's injured when due to play us, although I love watching him play

[LostDoggy]

''Most of the talking was between my management and the Gold Coast and they left me out of it because I wanted to concentrate on playing footy,'' Harbrow said.

I don't really care about the move one way or another, but am interested in this bit of the article.

Surely this is the first instance of a player admitting to having open contract talks while still in contract (and playing) with another team? I thought that you were only allowed to have contract talks in designated trade periods unless you are out of contract, so isn't this a clear breach of AFL rules (although we know how malleable these are)? We know it happens but no one has been dumb enough to openly admit to it. If it is a clear admission of guilt we should hit GC, the AFL and Jarrod with everything we can, just to push our weight around against these new big clubs.