By Michael Whiting

When Gold Coast defender Jarrod Harbrow runs out against Richmond in Cairns on Saturday, the match will be about more than four premiership points.

Harbrow grew up in the North Queensland city, and the chance to play in front of his family and friends is something the 22-year-old never thought would happen.

He played at Cazaly's Stadium as a junior, but coming back to play an AFL match on his home ground has Harbrow champing at the bit.

He said he had the round 17 fixture circled on his calendar since the day he moved to the GC SUNS.

"It's the first time I've played on that oval since I was 15 (when he won an under-16 Grand Final for South Cairns) and it's going to be an awesome feeling," Harbrow said.

"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."

Harbrow played Australian football and rugby league during primary school, but settled on football in high school and played for both South Cairns and the Cairns Hawks as a junior before trying his luck in the TAC Cup with the Murray Bushrangers.

"I didn't know what to expect. We all know Victoria is the home of footy and for a young kid moving out of Cairns to try and crack it into the big League with the bigger boys was challenging at the start," Harbrow said.

"I couldn't sit back and be in awe of them and if I wanted to make something of myself I had to work twice as hard as they did. I tried my hardest at every single training session, did more than what was required and whatever I had to do to get noticed."

Harbrow was noticed and drafted by the Western Bulldogs where he played 70 games before moving to the Gold Coast.

His older brother Marc is heavily involved with development in Far North Queensland as the AFL Cape York senior regional development officer.

He drives anywhere up to 15 hours to conduct clinics for youngsters in remote communities, and Jarrod said the region had plenty of talent to offer.

"There's a lot of players up there that have natural talent," he said.

"They can kick, handball and have speed and agility and all the attributes to make a good AFL player but it's just a matter of them getting noticed.

"I started as a junior in under-7s and worked my way up through pure hard work and being self-driven and that's the only way I've got to where I am now. It's definitely possible for any player up there, it's all about character and hard work."

After a slow start to the season, Harbrow has come on strongly in the past month and is starting to form a reliable combination with Nathan Bock and Campbell Brown at the back of the GC SUNS defence.

"I struggled early in the year with adapting to a new team but I think I've come a long way and am starting to string a few games together and play more consistently," Harbrow said.

Harbrow is not the only local in line for selection, with Cairns product Charlie Dixon and Hope Vale's Rex Liddy also likely starters.

"We've definitely been talking to each other about it, it'll be amazing," Harbrow said.