Inside the four walls of Metricon Stadium, Jarrod Harbrow commands the ultimate respect from every person he crosses paths with.
A revered leader that bleeds for his teammates, Harbrow epitomises the brotherhood that defines the Gold Coast SUNS playing group.
This was reflected at Friday night’s Club Champion where the Queenslander was not only overall runner-up but also took home both the Community Award and the Players’ Player Award, a prestigious trophy voted on by his peers.
“They both mean quite a lot,” Harbrow told SUNS TV.
“Obviously I put a lot of time into my footy but knowing that football isn’t going to hang around for long I think it’s important that I really think about post-football and what happens after I leave football.
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“I’m really passionate about looking after the club and doing as best as I can to make sure the club’s in a really good headspace moving forward. The more I can help out the club then I’m happy to do so.”
Harbrow’s immense work with the Indigenous community was also recognised this week by the AFL, announced as one of the four finalists in the 2016 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.
On the field, the dashing utility produced one of his most consistent seasons to date, averaging 18.6 disposals across 21 games.
Harbrow polled votes in 15 of his 21 games to finish second in the 2016 Club Champion behind runaway winner Tom Lynch, with his best games coming in round two against Fremantle (21 disposals, seven rebound 50s and a role on Hayden Ballantyne) and round 15 against St Kilda (21 disposals at 95% efficiency, seven marks).
“Anytime I finish up second to Tom Lynch, I’ll take that,” he said.
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“I’m happy, and very humbled by the award. I think I’ve played some pretty consistent footy and just looking for bigger and better things for next year.”
At 28, Harbrow believes his best football is still ahead of him as he prepares to enter his 11th pre-season campaign after being selected by the Western Bulldogs in the 2007 Rookie Draft.
“I certainly think so. I always look forward to pre-season and putting in as best for the pre season as I can, just getting the body right and looking after myself and making the right decisions,” Harbrow said.
“Just waiting for pre-season to come along and get as much done as possible as in the past I think I’ve learnt the more pain I put my body through the better year I’ll have.”
