Coast Aussie rules transfer centre: Broadbeach Cats sign former Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast Suns AFL player Jarrod Harbrow

Not to be outdone by rivals Labrador and Palm Beach Currumbin, Broadbeach have confirmed their own superstar signing. READ ON FOR EVERY CLUB IN AND OUT FROM AFL TO DIV 2 SOUTH

REVERED former AFL player Jarrod Harbrow has become the next football star to join the QAFL ranks after signing with premiers Broadbeach Cats.

The man who played 262 AFL games between stints at the Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs has become the development and pathways coach for the Cats and is expected to player games for both the club’s reserves and senior sides.

“I knew after my playing career ended I certainly still wanted to be involved in footy at some level,” Harbrow, who lives near the club, said.

Jarrod Harbrow has signed for the Broadbeach Cats. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

“I have always had a pretty strong connection to Broadbeach, particularly through Tim Searl and the Covino family who have a strong link to the Suns.

“My main priority isn’t to play footy, it is to try and help the young players develop and give them the best chance to push for senior selection.

“Within that there are a lot of players who are part of the Suns academy who come back to the Cats so I want to help them develop both on and off the field.

“I could play a handful of games in the reserves or if the opportunity comes up maybe a couple of senior games but we haven’t really decided on that yet.

“I don’t want to take a young kid’s spot if he has been pushing for a few years for senior selection.

“I’ll be trying to help build the profile of the club as well while doing some school footy clinics.”

TIGERS SIGN FORMER GEELONG STAR

SOME of AFL’s best players continue to make Gold Coast their home with Lachie Henderson signing for Labrador’s QAFL team.

Henderson, 32, will play under Nick Malceski, a former AFL player and NEAFL coach at the Gold Coast Suns, for the 2022 QAFL season.

The Tigers confirmed the big-name signing on its social media channels, saying “Lachie brings amazing leadership and knowledge to our young playing group.”

The defender played 206 AFL games throughout a 14-year career in the AFL, spending time at Brisbane, Carlton and Geelong.

Henderson, who also spent time at forward and kicked 117 goals, was part of the Cats team that was beaten by Richmond in the 2020 AFL grand final in Brisbane.

Henderson has already spent time training with Labrador, which is in talks with another elite talent about signing for the 2022 season.

The arrival of Henderson bolsters a team that finished on top of the ladder before falling one game short of the grand final after being beaten by Maroochydore in the ­preliminary final last season.

Henderson’s arrival follows news that former Carlton defender Liam Jones will play for Palm Beach Currumbin.

Southport signs former AFL flag hero, VFL BnF winner

RETIRING AFL journeyman Jacob Townsend has opened up about the tough decision to pull the pin on his 10-year, 62-game career at the top level.

Townsend called time on his AFL career after Gold Coast chose not to redraft the 28 year old in last month’s National and Rookie Drafts.

The Suns delisted Townsend at the end of October with the consideration he would be redrafted as a rookie.

“At the end of the (2021) season (the Suns) said ‘we aren’t in a position to offer you anything but it also isn’t a no – but it wasn’t a yes,” Townsend told News Corp.

“Then they had to wait for finals to finish to see if the AFL would cut back lists and stuff … they said it’s a bit of a sit and wait.

“The whole off-season we were in regular dialogue, the same ‘we still can’t tell you anything but it still isn’t a no’.

“When they took Charlie Constable in the national draft I knew that decreased my chances of being picked up the next day.

“I spoke to (the Suns) on the day of the Rookie Draft and they pretty much said ‘we won’t pick you up’ but that I could keep training with them.

“Me and Stuart Dew had a pretty honest chat about it … and I thought it was the correct time for me to hang them up.”

After 10 seasons and four clubs, the 2017 Richmond premiership player said it was time to think about life after football.

“I’ve been fighting for my spot on a list for the past four years and I wanted a bit of certainty that they (the Suns) couldn’t give me,” Townsend said.

“I have the next phase of my life planned out now and I’m already looking forward to that.”

That next phase keeps him on the Gold Coast and close by the Suns – Townsend agreeing to terms with VFL club Southport Sharks this week.

The 2017 JJ Liston Trophy winner will bring a wealth of experience to the Sharks in their second season in the VFL.

“I decided that while I’m fit enough and in the correct space of mind I want to play at the highest level I can and obviously the VFL is that,” Townsend said.

“At this stage of mine and my partner’s life it’s the best thing for us – that’s when I made the choice to stay up here (and) become a full time Gold Coaster.”

Ten seasons, 62 games and a premiership is an odd AFL career stat line but Townsend retires content with what he has achieved at the top level.

“If you asked me if I would play 11 years (one with the Giants pre-AFL entry) I would have said ‘I don’t think so’,” he said.

“I probably haven’t got the best career on paper in terms of games played and whatnot, but playing in a premiership helps the cause a lot.

“I haven’t really looked back on it yet, but over the past 24 hours since it was announced the amount of calls and texts I’ve received from good friends and mates I’ve made over the years has been the best thing to come out of it.”

A parting Instagram post from Richmond CEO Brendon Gale, hailing Townsend’s famous tackle on Matt Crouch in the 2017 grand final, the cherry on top.

“I didn’t really expect that from ‘The Chief’ – seeing that was pretty nice, I did enjoy that.”

Labrador springs signing coup with former Southport skipper

LABRADOR Tigers have stolen a march on their QAFL rivals and a host of interstate suitors by landing the prized signature of former Southport Sharks skipper Andrew Boston.

Boston, 27, fielded offers both near and far following his departure from the Sharks but the recent father chose a familiar footy club to call home for season 2022.

“My phone was running hot for a while there … but ideally I wanted to stay in Queensland with my family,” Boston said.

“I didn’t want to pack up and move, and flying in and out was going to be tough because I wouldn’t get to see my daughter grow up over the weekend.

“(Staying on the Gold Coast) was the best decision for me in the end.”

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Though he has never previously played for the club he has plenty of connections at Tigerland, including senior coach Nick Malceski who was at the Gold Coast Suns at the same time as 16-gamer Boston.

“I was at the Suns with him in my last year, that’s when I first met Mal,” Boston said.

“(Labrador) has a good football program and they want success as well – a lot of the blokes say he’s a really good coach and is creating a great culture at the club.”

A Gold Coaster through and through, Boston grew up playing with and against a host of his new teammates.

Choosing to step away from the heavy VFL commitments with Southport, Boston said he was looking forward to “having a bit of fun toward the end of my career” at Labrador.

“I just love playing footy with mates and it’s a good opportunity for me to do that,” he said.

“It is a bit weird (not being at Southport). I see the boys training and I do miss being part of that, but I still made the right decision for myself.

“It’s time for a new chapter at Labrador.”

But Boston’s quest for fun footy does not come at the cost of competition.

The seasoned winner will be a key cog in the Tigers’ quest for QAFL redemption after falling just short of a grand final berth in season 2021.

“There’s a lot of good players (at Labrador) and the people there have all bought in – they wall want success,” Boston said.

“After a year of playing footy together they’ve kept the list pretty well maintained.

“We’ll be a massive chance of being there at the end.”

Boston will fill a key midfield void at the Tigers left by the outgoing Pearce Hanley who, after a starring season with Labrador following his AFL retirement, has chosen to focus full-time on his health and fitness business.

Gold Coast Aussie rules transfer centre

Updated January 27, 2021

AFL

GOLD COAST SUNS

In: Mabior Chol (Richmond), Sandy Brock (Peel Thunder WAFL - Rookie), Bodhi Uwland (Suns VFL / Broadbeach - Rookie), Mac Andrew (Dandenong Stingrays - AFL National Draft), Charlie Constable (Geelong), Levi Casboult (Carlton)

Out: Will Brodie (Fremantle), Jack Hombsch (Retired), Jordan Murdoch (Retired), Jarrod Harbrow (Retired), Zac Smith (Retired), Luke Towey (Delisted), Jacob Townsend (Delisted), Aiden Fyfe (Delisted), Hugh Greenwood (Delisted - North Melbourne AFL)

VFL

SOUTHPORT SHARKS

In: Callum Searle (Port Melbourne VFL), Zac Foot (Casey Demons VFL), Riley Bowman (Box Hill VFL), Aiden Fyfe (Gold Coast Suns AFL), Jacob Heron (North Melbourne VFL), Max Pescud (Gold Coast Suns Academy), Boyd Woodcock (Port Adelaide AFL), Max Spencer (Werribee), Jay Lockhart (Melbourne Demons AFL), Jacob Townsend (Gold Coast Suns AFL)

Out: Andrew Boston (Retired; Labrador Tigers QAFL), Dylan Fyfe (Tasmania), Brodie Murdoch (Sabbatical)

QAFL

SURFERS PARADISE

In: Sam Scott (Geelong Football League), Alex Mitchell (Sherwood Magpies), Dan Green (Ballina), Trace Buckler (Bond University), Lachie Davies (Sherwood Magpies), Noah Swan (Coorparoo Colts)

Out: Miles Jewel (Wodonga), Jack Wingrave (University commitments)

BROADBEACH

In: Oscar McKinley (Sandhurst, Vic), Callaway Parker (Hermit Park Tigers, Townsville), Sam Barnett (St Kevins, VAFA), Bradley Lynch (Southport Sharks VFL)

Out: Tyrone Armitage (Retired)

LABRADOR

In: Jason Baird (Oakleigh Chargers NAB League), Harry Law (Bendigo Pioneers), Ricky Monti (Bendigo Pioneers NAB League), Andrew Boston (Southport Sharks VFL), Luke Meagher, Lachie Henderson (Geelong, AFL)

Out: Pearce Hanley (Retired), Nick Jackson, Andy Hollis, Alex Mckay, Blair Rubock, Bailey Reeves, Jaicob Kenny, Kurt McMahon, Dylan Fyfe (Tasmania), Jesse Travaglini

PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN

In: Brad Stafford (Mt Gambier - SA Midfielder), Tom Allison (South Australia - Midfielder), Tom Thyne (Wangaratta), Tyler Cornish (Wangaratta), Ethan Sekac (Tweed Tigers), Brad McDonald (Returning), Corey Beaman (Returning), Liam Jones (Carlton, AFL)

Out: John Croad (Sorento)

QFA DIVISION 2 SOUTH

BOND UNIVERSITY BULL SHARKS

In: Hayden Carthew-Zimmer (Ipswich Eagles), Brad Paech (Bordertown FC)

Out: Ben Wells (Retired)

BURLEIGH BOMBERS

In:

Out: Reggie Salter (Retired), Zac Brabin (Retired), Lee Warner (Retired), Billy Howard (Travelling)

COOLANGATTA TWEED BLUES

In:

Out:

BYRON BAY MAGPIES

In:

Out:

CARRARA SAINTS

In:

Out:

ROBINA ROOS

In:

Out:

TWEED COAST TIGERS

In:

Out:

BALLINA BOMBERS

In:

Out: Dan Green (QAFL)

COOMERA MAGPIES

In: Zane Baker (Surfers Paradise), Hayden Correa (Surfers Paradise), Stuart Viimpany (Springwood AFC)

Out: