CASTING his gaze around Cazalys yesterday, Cairns product and Western Bulldogs AFL star Jarrod Harbrow did not have to reach back far to recall his days on the same turf.
Despite having three seasons of elite competition to his name, Harbrow knows it was not long ago that he was in the same position as the AFL Cairns junior development squad players who trained yesterday.
Harbrow, who returns to Melbourne today to prepare for the start of pre-season training on Monday, was happy to help out at yesterday’s session, praising the program which helped prepare him for the national competition.
"I was in their position when I was up here so it’s good to come back and see how they’re all going because they’ve got a massive opportunity now to make a good football career," he said.
"They’ve got everything they need here in this program. It’s just a really strong, stable program. It’s up to them really, how much they want to get out of it. And how far they’re willing to take themselves."
Harbrow, who played 20 games as the Bulldogs marched to the 2009 preliminary final, plans to capitalise on his best season to date.
"I found a new position down the back, that’s a bit of a change, but I’m happy with the position," he said of his move into a defensive role.
"I just felt more free and more comfortable to play the way that I like to … just playing free-flowing football and that’s what I was able to do in the second half of the year."
Harbrow knows free-spirited play will only get him so far, and is readying himself for a tough pre-season.
"I want to build up my endurance, build up my strength and hopefully that will hold me in good stead for next year," he said.
Harbrow said the signing of controversial forward Barry Hall would boost the Bulldogs’ premiership hopes.
"(As a defensive target) he’ll free up a few other players in our forward line and he can only be good for us," he said.
AFL Cairns under-14, 16 and 18 players are training together once a week for six weeks leading into Christmas to prepare for next year’s representative campaign.
AFL Cairns development manager Eddie Skiba said it was important for the region’s rising talent to see the likes of Harbrow and fellow Cairns products Courtenay Dempsey (Essendon) and Charlie Dixon (Gold Coast) making their mark in the game.
