While a teenage Harbrow was showing plenty of promise in his North Queensland hometown of Cairns, he had to do more to chase his dream.
So with the encouragement of parents Russell and Paula, the entire family uprooted and headed more than 3000km south to Victoria.
The Harbrows moved to Mooroopna, near Shepparton, where Jarrod played two seasons in the TAC Cup with the Murray Bushrangers.
Despite being overlooked in the 2006 AFL Draft, the lightning-quick utility got his crack at the big time when the Western Bulldogs selected him at No. 27 in the ensuing Rookie Draft.
"It was massive for my parents," Harbrow told the AFL Record of the initial move.
"They all had full-time jobs in Cairns and they had to relocate and start all over again.
"I can't be more appreciative than what I am of them."
Harbrow will return to Cairns on Saturday as his second AFL team, Gold Coast, takes on his former club the Bulldogs in a crucial match for the Suns.
The 25-year-old is forging a terrific career, having now played 141 games in his eighth season.
He said switching to the start-up Suns at the end of the 2010 season was not a hard decision.
"I wanted to come back to Queensland," Harbrow said.
"As soon as I saw another Queensland team, the idea was floating about, my ears pricked up a bit and I got excited and wanted to know more about it.
"Coming to Queensland and closer to Cairns and my family was a massive drawcard.
"My family are able to come to Gold Coast and watch a lot more games. It's only a two-hour flight as opposed to a four-hour flight from Melbourne to Cairns."
Now closer to home, he has quickly become a leader of the young Suns, looked up to by most of his young teammates.
Read more about Jarrod Harbrow in this round’s edition of the AFL Record, which is available at all grounds.
