DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
FAMILY and friends are expected to turn out in force in Cairns on Saturday to show their support for two of the city's new favourite Suns.
Jarrod Harbrow and Rex Liddy will line up for Gold Coast to tackle Richmond in the first AFL match for premiership points in the Far North Queensland city on Saturday.
The match will be played at the city's home of football, Cazaly's Stadium, where Harbrow (pictured) grew up playing the game for South Cairns and Cairns Hawks as a junior before moving to Melbourne when he was 15. He has yet to set foot at the ground since beginning his AFL career.
Harbrow, 22, was the Western Bulldogs' number 27, round 2 pick in the 2006 AFL rookie draft. After four seasons at The Kennel, and forging a strong reputation as a skilful, evasive and rebounding half-back, Harbrow joined the Suns as a foundation player at the end of last season. He has played all the Suns' games in 2011.
Liddy is also a FNQ local, originally from Hope Vale, several hundred kilometres north of Cairns. He came to football via the successful KickStart program which has its head office based in Cairns.
A clearly excited Harbrow said Saturday's match has been at the back of the pair's minds for some time.
"We've definitely been talking to each other about it, it'll be amazing," Harbrow said this week. "It's the first time I've played on that oval since I was 15 and it's going to be an awesome feeling.
"To run out and play in front of my family and friends, it's going to be one of the highlights so far of my career. I thought if I get a chance to play a match up there, even if it was part of the NAB Cup, that would be amazing, but this is for four points and it's on my home ground in front of my family and in front of the whole of Cairns.
"It's unbelievable, I can't describe it. All the emotions running out there will be amazing; I'll be smiling the whole time I'm out there."
Liddy has played just the two games this season and in those he has been used primarily as a run-with tagger out of the middle and in defence.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 14/07/2011 00:04