Already possessing a glittering CV in his 14^th AFL season, SUNS veteran Jarrod Harbrow is about to add another line this weekend. 

The 31-year-old will play his 250^th AFL match, a huge achievement for the foundation SUN who has given everything to the Gold Coast SUNS. 

Let’s look back at his pathway to 250 games. 

After being overlooked at the draft as an 18-year-old, Harbrow earnt his chance in the AFL the next year when he was selected by the Western Bulldogs with pick 27 in the 2007 Rookie Draft. 

The scrawny Cairns product started his first season playing in the VFL before quickly impressing coaching staff at the Bulldogs. 

Within a month he had been called up for his AFL debut, in Round 4, 2007. 

Harbrow played 25 senior games in his first two seasons at AFL level as a small forward originally, booting 19 goals. 

But it was in 2009, entering his third season, when Harbrow found his true calling. 

After struggling to break into the senior side as a forward, he was shifted into defence and went on to play every game after Round 4 in that season, including three finals. 

He continued his strong form in the next season, playing 22 games including three more finals.

But after three preliminary finals losses in as many years with the Bulldogs, the then-22-year-old had his desire to return to his native Queensland fulfilled when he was announced as the fifth uncontracted player to sign for the Gold Coast SUNS. 

The move saw him reunite with former List Manager Scott Clayton, who had originally drafted Harbrow at the Bulldogs before also moving to the SUNS in its inaugural season. 

By this stage, Harbrow had established himself as a premier small defender in the competition, known for his damaging rebound out of defence and elite evasiveness.

In Gold Coast’s debut season, Harbrow played all 22 games, averaging 20 disposals, three tackles and four marks per game.

Playing his 100^th game in 2012, Harbrow was a standout, compiling 25 disposals, six tackles and three marks. 

Since then he hasn’t looked back, rarely missing a game due to injury as he slowly started notching milestone after milestone.

He’s represented the Indigenous All Stars three times, in 2009, 2013 and 2015, with the latter seeing Harbrow named as vice-captain behind Shaun Burgoyne. 

In 2018, the speedy defender played his 150^th SUNS game, becoming the first player to reach that mark for the club (he was also the first to 100 SUNS games). 

That year was a celebration of Jarrod Harbrow, with the hugely respected club stalwart honoured four times at Gold Coast’s Club Champion awards night.

He became the first player to be inducted as a life member of the Gold Coast SUNS, took home the SUNS Players’ Player and Community Awards, and capped it off by claiming the top gong as Gold Coast’s 2018 Club Champion. 

Equally impressive as his efforts on-field is his dedication in the community off it. 

As one of just two Indigenous players at the Western Bulldogs when he first walked in the doors, Harbrow didn’t have any senior mentors to look up to.

So he went about forging his own inclusive and supportive cultural environment, something that has blossomed at the SUNS as the club’s Indigenous programs continue to grow. 

He’s been a confidant to fellow Indigenous teammates Sean Lemmens, Izak Rankine, Malcolm Rosas Jnr and Jy Farrar, and has also taken a keen interest in supporting the club’s Indigenous SUNS Academy members. 

Starting his own mentoring program with his brother Marc, Harbrow is able to further support and educate Indigenous youth throughout Queensland in sport, school and general life. 

His endeavours over the past five years have seen him twice nominated as a finalist in the AFL’s Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.

Ahead of his 250^th match this weekend, Harbrow continues to build on his already-impressive numbers. 

He is the 255^th player to reach the 250-game milestone and becomes the 14^th most-capped Indigenous AFL player in the process.

Already the SUNS games record-holder, Harbrow is also 6^th on the all-time Queenslander games list and 5^th overall in possessions. 

He is the most prolific player to ever come from Cairns and also holds the SUNS record for the most top-10 Club Champion finishes alongside Gary Ablett.

But if there’s one thing we know for sure about Jarrod Harbrow, the only thing he’s concerned about this weekend is getting the four points for the club, such is the man he is and has been throughout his entire career in the red and gold.

Jarrod Harbrow – By the numbers:

Draft: No. 27, 2007 Rookie Draft, Western Bulldogs

Debut: Round 4, 2007

Most disposals: 36 (Round 6, 2010)

Most marks: 12 (Round 16, 2016)

Most goals: 3 (Round 19, 2008)

Most tackles: 9 (Round 9, 2018)

Most bounces: 9 (Semi-Final, 2010) 

50^th: Round 2, 2010

100^th: Round 18, 2012

150^th: Round 2, 2015

200^th: Round 21, 2017

250^th: Round 6, 2020

100^th SUNS game: Round 7, 2016

150^th SUNS game: Round 19, 2018 

Career Accolades:

Indigenous All Stars representative – 2009, 2013, 2015

Australian International Rules representative – 2013

Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award finalist - 2016, 2018

SUNS Community Award - 2016, 2018, 2019

SUNS Club Champion Runner-Up - 2016

SUNS Players’ Player Award - 2018

SUNS Club Champion – 2018

SUNS Life Membership - 2018