In his two years at the Gold Coast SUNS, Jarrod Harbrow has brought far more than just run and dash off half-back to the SUNS.
He is not in the club's leadership group, but Harbrow is looked up to by his peers.
He is an ear for the younger players, a role model for everyone, and a 24-year-old that loves going into the community and spreading the word about both AFL and living healthy.
Harbrow will play his 100th game against the Sydney Swans on Saturday night in a young career that has seen him forge a reputation at the Western Bulldogs and build on it at the Gold Coast SUNS.
While Karmichael Hunt – deservedly – got a lot of praise for the helping hand he provided to homesick SUNS Harley Bennell last year, Harbrow also played an important role.
Bennell now lives with Harbrow and the pair has been regular visitors to the remote north Queensland community of Bamaga to host training camps.
Another indigenous Gold Coast SUNS player, Liam Patrick, has also grown close to Harbrow, with the pair going out to Patrick's remote community of Lajamanu – 900km from Darwin – to host camps.
Gold Coast SUNS development coach Andy Lovell said Harbrow is a quiet person who is having a big influence at the SUNS.
"He's brought a real sense of culture," Lovell said.
His ability to work with Harley Bennell and Liam Patrick has been outstanding, he's really helped them grow and develop as people.
"He's been an ear for them. He understands them. Bennell and Patrick look up to someone like Jarrod Harbrow because he's older, more experienced, he's lived in the AFL system for a lot longer than they have and he's a grounded person.
"They've been able to model themselves on his behaviours. You see those guys grow so quickly on the back of following the lead of a really solid person in our footy club."
Lovell said moving from a junior player in the experienced Bulldogs list to a more senior member of the young SUNS had given Harbrow an opportunity to express himself more.
"He's been forced in a sense to take on that more senior leadership role but it's one he's grasped with both hands and run with it. He's really grown as a person and as a player," Lovell said.
Harbrow was snapped up by the Bulldogs with the 27th pick in the 2007 AFL Rookie Draft as a shy young man who grew up in north Queensland but showed his ability in the TAC Cup and for Victoria Country.
On the field, Harbrow is three weeks back after a nine-week layoff with a broken elbow and it's no coincidence that his return has resulted in a dramatic improvement from the SUNS.
Either side of his injury, the speedy left footer has been a model of consistency in 2012, improving his decision-making and skill execution to go with his dash from the back.
Harbrow said being involved with football clubs had forced him to shed his shyness.
"I'm not the biggest leader going around, I'm not the macho leader on the track, but I like to get around one-on-one with boys and I build good relationships like that so I'll continue to develop that way," Harbrow said.
"Naturally your leadership will show as you get more experience and get older.
"I'm still learning, I'm still developing as a player, as a person, so that won't stop."
Harbrow said his role as a leader to the younger indigenous players came naturally.
Being one of the older indigenous boys at the club, I do whatever I can to make their life as an AFL footballer smoother.
Harbrow said if the SUNS could bring the intensity of the past three weeks against the Swans, they could spring a surprise.
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