The phrase ‘do you want the good news or the bad’ marked the beginning of Tom Harley’s career with Geelong. As a twenty-year-old Harley had been picked up from Port Adelaide where he played one senior game.

Coach Gary Ayres approached the young defender after Geelong had lost eight games in a row and asked Harley the big question; he replied that he would like the good news. “You are going to play seniors” replied Ayres, followed by “against Darren Jarman. That was the bad news. Jarman had been on fire all year and had kicked 17 goals in two weeks therefore making it a daunting prospect.

Harley started the game, which was held in his hometown of Adelaide in full back against Jarman. Harley held Jarman to just one goal in three quarters and was pretty happy with his efforts. Jarman went on to boot five goals in the last quarter. “There was nothing I could do, he was unstoppable, kicking them from everywhere” Harley said.

Geelong went on to lose by 60 points but it was a good learning experience for Harley who is a highly regarded back line player for the Cats.