Herbert challenge
Harris relishes job on competition star
NED Harris received the tap on the shoulder in the pregame warm-up.
And with it came instructions from coach Damien McMahon to lock down on South Barwon star Louis Herbert.
The ball-winner changed tack, heading into defence for a shutdown role on the lively former Gold Coast Sun.
“He was the one I put a fair bit of time into,” Harris said.
“We had a team meeting and it was my job to stop him. They’ve got a lot of good players up forward and the likes of Josh Saunders in the middle, but I played a more defensive role.
“As a developing player, it’s good for me to play different roles for the team and take on different challenges.
“For me personally, to be able to play at both ends of the ground and in the middle is good for my development.”
Herbert got off the chain at times, kicking two goals in five minutes in the third term, but Harris was more than serviceable.
He had 17 disposals and four tackles, while Herbert finished with 22 touches, seven clearances, three inside 50s and three majors.
“He still kicked a few, but I felt like I was able to limit his impact a little bit,” Harris said.
“He’s a very, very good player . . . probably one of the hardest players I’ve played on.
“He’s just got it all. He’s big enough, he’s quick and he just worked all day.
“Some players who you play on can chuck in the towel sometimes, but he just kept going. It was a credit to him.”
The Eagles will turn their attention to Saturday’s clash against Geelong West, but will have an eye on the Round 12 blockbuster against St Joseph’s.
“They’re one of the best teams in the comp and we love the challenge of playing against those teams week in, week out,” Harris said.
“They’ve been the benchmark for the last three years, and we can’t look too far forward, but when it comes around it will be an awesome game and another chance for us to keep improving.”