by Ben Waterworth (Twitter: 
@bjwaterworth)
Pic: News Limited
WHEN outsiders think of Noble Park’s midfield, names such as Craig Anderson, Sam Monaghan and Tyson Mitchem immediately spring to mind.
And rightly so, as those three players, particularly Anderson, have proven themselves on the big stage over a few years now.
But following a tremendous 2013 campaign, those outsiders can add Tim Harper to that star-studded Bulls midfield group.
The 24-year-old has been taken some big steps forward this season. And will no doubt be a key cog in the Bulls’ centreline during today’s Division 1 ‘Choose Tap’ Grand Final against Balwyn.
After playing his junior and early senior footy at Knox, Harper moved to Noble Park in 2011, playing nine games for the season. He was picked up by VFL side Werribee the following season, accumulating 14 games, including one with the senior side.
He returned to the Pat Wright Senior Oval at the start of this season and has not looked back since.
Harper, who is one of only three Bulls to play every game so far in 2013, puts his impressive season down to an excellent run with injuries.
‘I’ve been a lot more consistent in the second half of the season. I’ve been getting to more contests and cracking in pretty hard,’ he said.
‘I’ve had a lot of injuries in the past. It’s just been a matter of getting some consistency in my football and stringing some games together.
‘I used to get around five or six games for the season then break down. It’s been really important to string some games together and get a feel for game.’
Harper admits he has been able to accumulate more of the footy this year due to the close attention some of his fellow midfielders have been receiving.
‘It makes it a lot easier to go under the radar,’ he said.
‘Sam [Monaghan] now gets tagged each week, while “Ando” [Craig Anderson] has been a great player for a long time now.
‘I really rate the way Sam goes about it. He’s a really smart footballer. I’ve been working closely with him in the middle of the ground. At training you can see how hard he works and the running patterns he does.’
The midfielder’s vast improved was showcased last Saturday, producing a best on ground performance in his side’s 31-point preliminary final win over Vermont at Bayswater Oval.
‘It was one of my better games this year, particularly around the stoppages,’ Harper humbly admitted.
‘We really turned it around in the stoppages and got a lot more clearances. In the first term we couldn’t get our hands on the footy, so that was very important.’
‘We were lucky enough to really get on top of them [Vermont] in the last three quarter of the game. Vergim [Faik] got on top in the ruck, which really helped too.’
Like his Bulls teammates and supporters, Harper’s attention now turns to Balwyn, which will head into today’s ‘Choose Tap’ Grand Final as warm favourites.
And after dropping just one game for the season, that favouritism tag is fair.
However the Bulls have pushed Daniel Donati’s men in both of the two games between the clubs this season.
‘We match up really well against Balwyn, probably better than we do against Vermont,’ Harper said.
‘We were 20 points up at three-quarter time the last time we played them [Round 16], but they ran over the top of us on their ground.
‘But we’re definitely 100 per cent confident now. We reckon the big ground [Bayswater Oval] will suit us.’
Harper believes the drive and attitude his teammates will have on Saturday will be crucial.
‘We’ve got 22 players who hate to lose a game of football,’ he said.
‘We really came together as a team on the weekend and played a strong, team brand of football. Everyone is playing their role at the moment. For us it’s not about individuals standing out and having a big game.
‘We can beat them through the middle of the ground. If we can apply that pressure to stop their run and carry, we’re a chance.’
There is no doubt Tim Harper has announced himself as a star of the EFL in 2013.
And if he delivers on the big stage today, opposition clubs and outsiders will not be forgetting him for a while.
