There will be one familiar face running around on the Metricon Stadium training field when new senior coach Rodney Eade takes the reins of the Gold Coast SUNS this month.

Midfielder Jarrod Harbrow spent four AFL seasons under Eade’s tutelage at the Western Bulldogs, playing 70 games at Whitten Ovalincluding three consecutive losing preliminary finals between 2008 and 2010 before relocating north for the SUNS’ inaugural season in 2011.

After adding 78 games to his career tally, the North Queenslander is thrilled to be reunited with his former coach and is confident ‘Rocket’ can guide the SUNS to success on the next chapter of their journey.

“He is a fantastic coach, personally we had a great relationship at the Bulldogs and I think he will be great for the club,” Harbrow told The Courier Mail.

“Tactically he knows the game as well as everyone.

“He motivates the players and I always thought he had strong views but he also has the ability to be flexible in his thinking.

“He can lead us to the next level.”

Eade was equally as complimentary of his former protégé, speaking kindly of both Harbrow’s footballing ability and him as as a person.

“I’ve got a pretty good relationship with Jarrod to be honest,” Eade said at his introductory press conference on Friday.

“I think he’s reasonably pleased that I’m here as well which is good to know.

“I rate him really highly. I think his football is of high quality but I think him as a person, his character very high quality.”