SINCE LEAVING the inviting waterways and beachesof sunny Cairns for the grey skies and busystreets of Melbourne,Bulldogs rookie Jarrod Harbrow has had to come terms with a lot of harshrealities.

"They use the car horn a hell of a lotmore here. Everyone seems uptight and in a rush," Harbrow said.

"Unfortunately, I have adapted to thatand turned into a Melbournedriver myself."

The 18-year-old's rapid rise into theBulldogs senior team is another example of his ability to successfully adapt tohis environment in a short space of time.

After being secured by the Bulldogs in thisyear's NAB AFL Rookie Draft, Harbrow broke into the senior team in round four –an achievement that still makes him shake his head in disbelief.

"To be playing with some of these guysall of a sudden, in my first year, it is a huge buzz and extremely rewarding.It makes you want to work harder," Harbrow said.

Indeed, Harbrow says his early AFL experienceshave more than matched the expectations he had as a youngster.

"Growing up, that is all you everthink about. In junior footy you are always thinking 'the AFL is the ultimate, itis everything'.

"Then, when you are actually in theteam and playing and training alongside superstars you cannot help but admirethe amount of work they put in," said the young Bulldog.

And Harbrow is more than familiar with hardwork and sacrifice. At the age of 16, two options were placed on the table forthe Queenslander in order to further his footballing career: go to boardingschool and play junior footy in Brisbane or movewith his parents to the GoulburnValley and enroll intothe TAC Cup system.

Harbrow says the decision to move away fromfamily, friends and 16 years of memories was a tough one.

"I thought about it a lot and ended upchoosing Victoria.My dad is from Victoriaand he thought the TAC Cup system would be the best way to go."

"Another reason was because if I hadchosen the Brisbaneroute I would have had to go to boarding school and I would be on my own."

After five games in the first half of his debutAFL season, Harbrow's move to the GoulburnValley seems to beworking out beautifully.

With the second half of the season to play,Harbrow could potentially be heading towards his first finals series. However,he says he is not getting too carried away.

"It would be awesome but obviously I amonly in my first year so I'm definitely only taking it week by week and justtrying to hold my spot in the side."