WEEKEND IN SPORT

EIGHT-PAGE LIFTOUT:

JARROD Harbrow hopes four Far North products playing in the same AFL game will help inspire the next generation of Cairns footballers.

A record number of AFL Cairns juniors ran out in the same game on Saturday in China as Harbrow was joined by Jack Bowes and debutant Jacob Heron, while a former teammate of his, Charlie Dixon, was on the other side for Port Adelaide.

Dixon earned the bragging rights over his three Cairns mates as his 18 disposals and one goal helped secure a 40point win at Jiangwan Stadium.

Heron, still just a teenager, was far from overawed by the occasion and added another layer to his incredible story of being the first player to make his debut in China when he goaled with his first kick.

The Cairns Saints junior was mobbed by teammates after he kicked the goal and Harbrow said it was a special day for the Cairns community to see the quartet on the ground together.

“It is good and shows the development up in the Far North and how it is going,” Harbrow said.

“It is a credit to the Gold Coast Suns, the AFL and obviously the Suns academy plays a really big part in that too.

“Hopefully there is a few more of us in the future.”

The dashing defender, who played one of his best games of the season in China, collecting 27 touches, presented Heron with his first Suns jumper prematch on Saturday afternoon

“I am super proud of the way Jacob has come into the footy club and embraced what we stand for,” Harbrow said.

“He is always smiling and up and about, and his form to start the year has been very good.

“He certainly deserves his chance and I thought he did pretty well in his first game.

“He is going to learn and get better, there is a good future for him.”

With Mum Jillian and brother Oscar in the stands, Heron found 10 touches and three tackles in his first outing.

“Obviously Jack moved down a year before me, and to see him be able to move down and make it into the Suns and play AFL in his first year was really inspirational – it doesn’t matter where you’re from, you can make it,” Heron said.

“As soon as I got to the club I’ve tried to use Jarrod as an inspiration and a model.

“He’s been awesome. Everyone in Cairns talks about how Jarrod’s going and how Jack is going and to be able to play with those boys is awesome.”

Picture: AAP Image/DAVID MARIUZ AUSSIES ABROAD: Cairns juniors Charlie Dixon of the Port Adelaide Power tackles Jarrod Harbrow of the Gold Coast Suns during the Round 9 AFL match at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China.

Picture: AAP IMAGE DREAM DEBUT: Jacob Heron of the Suns celebrates a goal with Brad Scheer during the Round 9 AFL match between Gold Coast and the Port Adelaide Power at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China, on Saturday.

PROUD: Jarrod Harbrow.