It’s not that Harley is reluctant to talk about himself; it’s more that he seems to think of himself primarily, in the context of footy at least, as one member of a very close collective, the Geelong defence. And each helps to define the other.
As the Cats prepare for the new season with a revamped forward line and an emerging midfield, the 25 year-old is pleased that the back end is settled and stable.
“When (coach) ‘Bomber’ (Thompson) came on board in 2000, he set about structuring the side around a strong defence. Back then, myself and Matty were probably only 20 or 21 and he gave us some big jobs early,” Harley told afl.com.au.
“Since then, the last four years Brenton Sanderson and Darren Milburn have joined the mainstay core and younger guys like Corey Enright, Jarrad Rooke and David Wojcinski have come in.
“That’s where a lot of the experience of out team is. Our starting four midfield may have only 100 games between them whereas the starting six backline may have four or five hundred,” he said.
“The way the side’s structured we think we do a pretty good job. We do enjoy each other’s company on and off the field and we’re a very tight-knit group.”
Preparing for his eighth season at AFL level, Harley is in great shape, but he understands that setbacks have a nasty way of popping up when least expected.
In the final minutes of the Cats’ final practice match against Essendon in Albury last pre-season, Harley stepped on a stone, broke a bone in his heel and missed the first six matches of the season, ending a 76-game unbroken streak.
A hamstring strain kept him sidelined for two matches later in the season, but there’ve been no on-going problems since.
“I’ve been in and around the system for about seven or eight years so you should really have your body right by then, but I try to see myself as an improving player every year,” Harley said.
“Last year was obviously frustrating, missing eight games, but I still think I improved as a footballer and that’s what I’m all about this year – trying to work well with Matty Scarlett in the backline and develop that chemistry we seem to have.
“If there’s one thing I could take out of his book it’s probably that attacking side of the game, showing a bit of flair and being prepared to take them on,” he said.
“I plan to take another step forward to become more attacking. I think in the last couple of years it’s been coming along quite nicely. By the end of it, providing we have some finals success I think I’ll be able to look back on my career and hopefully be pretty satisfied with it.”
In January, every player in the competition has his sights set on September, and Harley believes the Cats are ready after a couple of indifferent years.
“The optimism is probably as high as it’s been since I’ve been at the club. The guys realise that we underachieved last year,” he said.
“It’s a funny one, we finished close in 2002 and then had an ordinary year last year, so in our development we’ve probably done the years back-to-front. I think we’re definitely capable of playing in the finals and I personally will be very disappointed if we don’t.
“If we can get our full list on the park we’ll be capable of knocking off anyone.”
