GUN SUN HARBROW DESPERATE TO SEE CLUB SUCCEED

SUNS club champion Jarrod Harbrow has spoken for the first time about how close he came to retiring and what convinced him to sign a new twoyear deal with Gold Coast.

The respected defender and foundation Suns player said the on-field results of Gold Coast’s first eight years in the AFL had taken its toll.

But Harbrow declared his off-field work with his indigenous academy had given him renewed motivation to help turn the club around.

“Conversations came up about those things (changing clubs or retirement),” he said. “I thought about it but it would have been pretty selfish of me. I have a family and I feel like I have so much more to give back.

“(Retirement) did cross my mind a bit. Just the fact of how the club and our results have been over the previous eight years.

“I am desperate to turn this club around and we all owe it to each other.

“I think it was just the offfield work I’m doing that kept me going … That keeps me motivated and that keeps me looking forward to it.

“I wake up looking forward to what I’m going to do next with the indigenous academy boys. That kept me going and I had a few conversations with the club on where I can take that so it was a really good future that I saw that I can pursue.

“My form was still pretty good too so I would have been mad not to play on.”

Harbrow got two standing ovations at the club champion awards on Saturday at Southport Sharks on a night where he was presented with four awards. The 30-year-old won the Players’ Player and Community awards while he was also officially presented with life membership of the club.

Harbrow said he was humbled to win the awards as he reflected on an 11-year career that began at the Western Bulldogs in 2007.

“I am really proud of a lot of the hard work I have put in, not just this year but over a number of years, since I have been up here,” Harbrow said.

“It’s a massive reward I take great pride in. I’m really humbled to be playing footy for starters and to be receiving this award is a massive bonus.

“We have all got so much more to offer. Not just as footy players but we have so much more to offer in life.”

Harbrow finished on top with 390 votes to win ahead of teammates Touk Miller (351) and Lachie Weller (336).

I AM DESPERATE TO TURN THIS CLUB AROUND AND WE ALL OWE IT TO EACH OTHER. SUNS STAR JARROD HARBROW