NFL 2019: Daniel Harris joins North Heidelberg
Just months after he was unveiled as one of Deer Park’s recruits, former North Melbourne and Gold Coast midfielder Daniel Harris has switched clubs and will line up for North Heidelberg this year.
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Just months after he was unveiled as one of Deer Park’s recruits, former North Melbourne and Gold Coast midfielder Daniel Harris has switched clubs and will line up for North Heidelberg this year.
Harris was announced as one of the Bulldogs’ marquee signings this week after spending the past three years at Pascoe Vale in the Essendon District league.
It was announced in November the 36-year-old would be joining Western Region powerhouse Deer Park, alongside Pascoe Vale teammate Craig Anderson.
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But North Heidelberg president Warren Haysom said Harris backflipped and opted to join North Heidelberg after Anderson decided to retire.
Haysom said there had no issues signing Harris from Deer Park, where he was unveiled as one of seven recruits at the end of last year.
“To my knowledge he hasn’t signed with Deer Park,” Haysom said.
“He hadn’t signed with Deer Park so there’ll be a clearance from Pascoe Vale.”
Harris will serve as a playing assistant coach under Bulldogs mentor Brent Harvey, a good friend from their time at North Melbourne.
“Not long after Boomer’s (Harvey) appointment as coach, sort of put one and one together and we’d see what we could come up with,” Haysom said.
“One of his best mates (Anderson) was going to Deer Park and then gave it away and Daniel said, ‘look, I don’t really know anyone there’.
“We had a bit of a meeting about prospective players, still looking to bolster our list a little bit and Daniel came about.
“He came to our season launch on Sunday, trained Monday and Wednesday and looking forward to having him on board.”
Harris’ signing means North Heidelberg will have four former AFL players on its list this year, joining Brent and Shane Harvey and Western Bulldogs premiership defender Shane Biggs.
Harris will be allocated three points under the player points system.
He played 149 games at North Melbourne and a further 11 matches with the Gold Coast in its inaugural year in the competition in 2011.
Haysom said Harris would help cover for the losses of Williamstown trio Liam Hunt, Jesse Tardio and Jhye Baddeley-Kelly.
“We felt we probably need a little bit more experience to our list and a bit of midfield depth,” he said.
“It gives a bit of coverage, that sort of thing, basically increasing a little bit of depth and cover for players that may or may not be there because of VFL commitments and any unforeseen injuries.”
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