Tom Harley - Player Profile

Player Profile

During his playing career, Harley was considered as one of the league's "most respected players" and the "general of the most miserly defence in the league". Harley began his early career as a key position player at centre half back, where he used his physical size to great effect. However, during his later years he played as a floating defender capable of playing on small forwards. Despite his personal admission to not being "the greatest player", Harley's play-reading ability saw him recognised as one of the league's best at intercepting opposition passes inside his defensive 50m arc.

He led with great dignity and a commitment to the common cause. He did not give Geelong its brilliance. Rather, his gift was to enable that brilliance to flourish on terms that were completely understood by every footballer in a blue-and-white hooped jumper.

Harley's leadership skills have been consistently praised during his time in the league. Despite his reputation for not being the team's greatest player, he was widely regarded as a natural leader whose character "was the heartbeat of Geelong". Teammate Gary Ablett complimented Harley as being "very approachable ... the key to gelling the team together". Many commentators have attributed his leadership influence as being a key factor in Geelong's premiership success. Specifically, he was credited with helping transform the culture of the club, in setting standards for on and off-field behaviour. Harley's legacy as captain of the club was pronounced by Bill McMaster as being one of the great leaders of Geelong alongside Reg Hickey and Fred Flanagan.