A veteran of 18 pre-season campaigns himself, Harvey says Daw’s determination on the training track has been impressive.
“…what I've seen this pre-season is that his work-rate has just gone through the roof - in the gym, with his skills, with his running,'' Harvey told The Age’s Matt Murnane.
"And that has just made him a whole better player.”
While Daw has been in the spotlight for some individual moments of brilliance in recent years, it’s consistency that has at times eluded him; but Harvey says that’s changing.
''He stands out a lot more now. He still does some amazing things at training, you see them and you just go 'whoa',” he said.
''But last year, for every one of those things he did, he was doing two of the other things - running under the ball, the little fumbles, the mis-kicks, the things he shouldn't be doing.
''But he has fixed all those little things up now that were holding him back.''
In an interview with NMFC.com.au last week, Daw spoke of his excitement working with forwards the calibre of Petrie, and the vice-captain shares that respect.
"He's definitely a very different type of player,'' the vice-captain said of Daw’s move forward.
''I know our defenders have found him a really difficult match-up, such is his strength and his speed.
''I haven't seen his athleticism in anyone else before, ever.''
Daw’s progress will be put to the test at Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium on Tuesday night, with a matchup against established defender Nathan Grima on the cards during the club’s first intraclub game.
NMFC.com.au will commentate the match via the CoveritLive application.
