Recruited largely as a tough and uncompromising in-and-under midfielder, Harwood spent the majority of his first two AFL seasons with the Lions Reserves side - showing very little difficulty adapting to the physicality of senior NEAFL football.
He had a brief taste of senior AFL action (six matches) in his debut season of 2010, before managing a further seven games the following year.
Having identified his natural aggression and ball-winning abilities, the Lions’ coaches harnessed Harwood’s obvious strengths and began working diligently on improving his weaknesses - namely his fitness and running capability.
"I didn't find out running was such a big part of the game until I played AFL. When you're in juniors and U18s you can get away with it, but not at the top level, you have to be top notch,” Harwood told lions.com.au on the eve of the Lions’ pre-season.
"With the new sub rule, blokes need to be on the ground for longer periods and that was a big issue for me. I could only sustain a certain amount of time before I needed a rest and I need to get on top of it.”
"I'm definitely keen to get rid of my reputation of not being able to run."
Harwood’s commitment on the training track over summer has since paid off in spades, given he seems to have now found himself a position in the Lions’ side as a running defender - a role that might have been considered unthinkable for him 12 months ago.
After featuring in just four of the Lions’ first 11 matches, Harwood has been a mainstay in the senior team over the past three weeks - headlined by a breakthrough performance against Melbourne at the Gabba last Sunday.
The recruit from Glenorchy in Tasmania was among the Lions’ best players against the Demons, collecting a career-high 29 disposals and 12 marks across half-back.
Equally as impressive was his statistical return of seven one per centers (second only to Joel Patfull’s nine), five rebound 50s (a team-high), and an incredible disposal efficiency of 90%.
Harwood also proved that he’s lost none of those animal instincts with a bone-crunching ‘gore’ on Melbourne’s James Magner during the second term.
With renewed running power, the ‘Rhino’ - who turns 21 this Sunday - seems to enjoy being let off the leash in his new role.
