LIAM Harrington returned to Wangaratta from Ovens and King club Whorouly this season with minimal fuss or fanfare.
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But the quietly-spoken country boy has certainly made a big impact in his return to the O and M.
Harrington has played all 16 games and has been one of the Magpies’ most consistent, featuring mainly on a wing.
The 27-year-old played in Wangaratta’s 2007 premiership under Jason Lappin before returning to home club Whorouly.
But he had a point to prove to himself that he could still play at O and M level.
“It’s been good to come back,” Harrington said.
“They (Wangaratta) gave me an opportunity to play senior footy.
“The place hasn’t changed, obviously footy personnel does.
“It’s still a great place and I enjoy being back there.”
Harrington plays his football much like he lives his life; honest, hard-working and unassuming.
It’s those qualities that endear him to Magpies coach and his ’07 premiership teammate, Brendan Cairns.
“Liam’s a premiership player at the club and went out to his home club Whorouly and played over 100 games,” Cairns said.
“He decided to challenge himself to a high level of footy again.
“His professionalism and training standards are really high.
“He runs and carries the footy and he’s a beautiful deliverer of the footy.”
Harrington’s poise, experience and delivery by foot has been just what Wangaratta’s needed this season.
The club’s won five games and is hoping to make it six on Saturday night under lights against Wodonga at the Norm Minns Oval.
But the Magpies, who were held to just 5.7 in last week’s 37-point loss away to Corowa-Rutherglen, have only won one of their past seven games.
“We need a much-improved effort if we are going to be competitive,” Cairns said.
“If we produce what we have over the past two weeks, Wodonga will certainly win comfortably.
“We haven’t had enough effort.
“We haven’t had the will to win, particularly when the game’s there to be won.”
While Zack Leitch is suspended, the Magpies welcome back defender Daniel Boyle and forward Matt Westhoff.
Boyle has enjoyed an outstanding return to the Norm Minns Oval, while Westhoff has become vitally important since Joel Harris went down with a season-ending knee injury.
Wodonga made four changes, with Reed Jackson to make his senior debut.
