page_title: Tom Harley
section_title: Captaining the Cats (2007–2009)
hierarchical_section_title: Tom Harley / AFL career / Captaining the Cats (2007–2009)
context_page_description: Thomas Harley is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club and the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League. A defender at 1.93 metres and 95 kilograms, Harley was a two-time premiership-winning captain at the club.
  After a successful junior career which culminated with selection in the under-18 All-Australian team, Harley was drafted to Port Adelaide as a zone selection. Although an inaugural member of the club, Harley struggled to force his way into the senior team and spent the majority of his early years playing for Norwood in the South Australian National Football League. After making just one appearance for Port Adelaide, Harley was traded to the Geelong Football Club in exchange for the 37th draft pick in the 1998 AFL Draft.
  Harley quickly established himself within the Geelong defense and received a range of accolades and club honours, including multiple Best Clubman awards. Prior to the 2007 AFL season, Harley was appointed club captain and went on to enjoy great individual and team success.
context_section_description: At the beginning of 2007, Harley was appointed as club captain of Geelong. Harley's elevation to the captaincy was considered a surprise move to many outside the club. Despite the reaction, Harley was recommended by the club's board of directors following a review of the football department the previous year. The club noted that Harley "was a player who would dig deep and stand up when it counts", and was also chosen to help improve communication links between players, coaching staff and the board of directors.
  Harley endured a difficult start to his first season as captain, as he ruptured a finger tendon during the club's round one loss to the Western Bulldogs. After undergoing surgery on his finger, Harley made his return through the club's reserves team in the VFL but failed to earn a recall to the senior team until round ten. After playing the majority of his career at Geelong as a centre half back, Harley struggled to find his niche in the defense following the emergence of the younger Matthew Egan in the key position. He soon adjusted himself as a floating defender capable of playing on small forwards, and retained his position in the side after achieving career-best averages of 14 disposals and 5 marks a game. Harley helped the team compile an 18-4 win-loss record at the conclusion of the home and away season, earning them their eighth McClelland Trophy and securing first position on the ladder leading into the finals series. Harley led the defense to the number one defensive record in the league during the season, by letting only 1664 points be scored against them. After wins against North Melbourne and Collingwood in the Qualifying and Preliminary finals respectively, Geelong earned a spot in the Grand Final against Harley's former team Port Adelaide. Collecting 13 disposals and 7 marks, Harley helped the club to an AFL-record 119 point win and secure its first premiership in 44 years. Harley became the first Geelong captain of a premiership-winning side since Fred Wooller in 1963, and achieved the rare distinction of becoming a premiership-winning captain in his first year at the helm.
  Harley's leadership qualities and influence on the club as captain was commended early on in the season after his handling of teammate Steve Johnson's off-field discretions. Johnson was banished from the team during the pre-season and demoted to the reserves for the first five games of the season. However, he successfully returned to the team and finished the season as a Norm Smith Medallist and All-Australian. Harley's leadership influence on the team was reflected in his finishing fourth in the AFLPA Best Captain award during his first year at the helm. He was also awarded life membership of the Geelong Football Club following his 150th team appearance in the round sixteen win against the Western Bulldogs, and named in the end-of-season South Australian State of Origin team.
  Harley's achievements at the club were recognized prior to the 2008 AFL season when he was inducted into the Geelong Football Club Hall of Fame. Following the success of 2007, Harley and the club were expected to feature prominently in the 2008 finals series once more. Harley featured in all 22 home-and-away fixture games and 3 finals games. He set career-highs of 14 marks (round three) and 14 handpasses (Preliminary Final) in the process, and helped the club achieve the number one defensive record during the season for the second consecutive year. During the season, he was also selected to the initial squad for the AFL Hall of Fame all-star game, although he failed to make the final teams. Geelong compiled a 21–1 win-loss record to once again capture the McClelland Trophy and qualify for the finals series in first position on the ladder. After successive wins against St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs, Harley led the team to their second straight Grand Final appearance. During the Grand Final, Harley suffered mild concussion following a collision prior to the half-time break. As a result, he struggled to contribute for the rest of the game as Geelong lost t
caption: Harley playing for Geelong in 2008
exif: {}