Harrington grateful for “amazing” opportunity

QUEENSLAND AFLW Draft prospect Tara Harrington has not been lost on just how valuable the experiences have been for her over the last couple of years. Speaking to Rookie Me Central at the National Draft Combine, Harrington said despite missing the bulk of the year through injury, still felt connected thanks to assisting with the coaching at the Maroons.
>> TARA HARRINGTON Q&A (2024 PRESEASON)
“I had heaps of support through my injury obviously this year throughout the past couple of years, the coaches have been amazing with that,” Harrington said of the Suns Academy and state program. “I think it’s a really good talent pathway going up through the Suns Academy, so much support and even opportunities to train up and play with some of the AFLW girls is really cool.”
Harrington has battled an ankle injury for the best part of 12 months, and though she made her return long enough to justify her potential first round status, the Gold Coast Suns Academy member has still found it frustrating.
“Basically I injured my ankle back in September last year, so I didn’t have a preseason leading into this season,” she said. “Then got back for the first game of the Suns Coates League and played five or six games, getting better each game and then unfortunately re-did it in the sixth game of the year.”
Describing her short stint with the Suns Academy this year as “really good”, Harrington also assisted with Bond University’s run to another QAFLW Grand Final. Though the Bull Sharks fell short on the big day, Harrington fondly remembers the 2023 flag, and was pleased to be involved again this year, albeit from the sidelines.
“Obviously last year we won the flag which was so cool and then they went down in the granny this year, but it was still good to be there for support,” she said.
As for whether there was a pang of sadness wondering whether she could have made a difference in the big dance, the midfielder was candid in her response.
“I think there always is,” Harrington said. “You watch the game and wish you were out there. I think there’s certain moments in the game where you think ‘oh I could do something that’ll impact the game or help the team’ but in the end you’ve just got to support your teammates, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Harrington watched on alongside fellow Bull Sharks Ava Usher and Heidi Talbot, with the trio also missing Queensland’s national championships. Though it was a tough time for the trio, Harrington was glad she had the support.
“We’re in the gym together, we’re on the bikes together, so it was really good to have them there,” she said.
Describing herself as an inside midfielder with clean hands and terrific defensive pressure, Harrington said her main goal over the off-season would be to build her fitness back up and get “some strength back into my kicking” as she eyes off a return to the field in 2025.
She has been working hard with a skills group amongst other Queensland prospects in the countdown to the AFLW Draft next week. Though almost certainly set to remain in Gold Coast colours after the Suns worked hard to get enough picks to match bids on their five nominated Academy athletes, Harrington said she would have no qualms relocating.
“I think that potentially going interstate would be a pretty cool opportunity,” she said. “Obviously different experiences and different environments would be pretty cool. “Each year you want to improve yourself and moving is probably going to do just that. “I think the Academy has helped a lot through my younger years and then going into that would be pretty cool.”