New dad given day off
GOLD Coast Suns’ Jarrod Harbrow will be a notable absence from today’s game against the Crows but the veteran couldn’t be happier.
Harbrow welcomed the birth of his first child, daughter Riley Faith, with partner Emma on Wednesday and has not made the trip to Adelaide for the Round 17 game.
The 27-year-old is one of five Suns players from last weekend’s side which lost by 15 points to GWS who will not back up. Others are the injured Mitch Hallahan (arm) and Tom Nicholls (quad) while Peter Wright and Clay Cameron have been omitted.
But it is the best exclusion of Harbrow’s career with the senior club figure given time off to spend with his family. He will be an eager spectator when he watches the Gold Coast’s game on TV.
Coach Rodney Eade said the Harbrow family was doing well.
“He is thrilled that his wife is well and the baby is in good health so he is just thrilled to be a dad,” Eade said yesterday. “He will have the weekend off and come back the weekend after.”
The change of focus could be hugely beneficial for Harbrow who has worked tirelessly in what has been a tough year for both player and club.
Harbrow has not had the same impact in 2015 as in previous years.
Despite missing three games due to injury, he has shouldered a huge weight of responsibility to provide leadership to a young group of players.
Injuries to key senior players and a drug scandal have tested the group and Harbrow has quietly been at the heart of the Suns ability to remain tight during a high increase in losses.