This could be the small forward we have been after for years....worth the risk????? Why not IMO!!!!!!Shunned young gun Dayle Garlett says he is a changed man and ready for AFL football
FOOTBALL'S problem child, Dayle Garlett, says he has corrected the lifestyle problems that warranted him being labelled "a ticking time bomb'' at last year's national draft.
Garlett was overlooked by all 18 clubs last year and was kicked out of the AIS/AFL academy despite a reputation as the most talented footballer in the draft pool.
The slick left-footer trained with Essendon in the off-season but was bypassed after a 4am bender in Perth only three days before the pre-season draft.
But Garlett has had a stunning off-field transformation, convincing Swan Districts officials and recruiters he will be worth the punt in November.
Garlett broke his silence on last year's draft snub.
"Football-wise, I was probably ready last year,'' Garlett told the Herald Sun.
"Maturity-wise, probably not. But I feel better than ever.
"I have got a girlfriend and things are going great.
"I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
"My main focus is to make the AFL at the end of the year and I'm going to give it 100 per cent.''
On the field, Garlett has been an unstoppable force for Swan Districts this season, bagging four goals in a move forward on Saturday.
He has averaged 20 possessions and two a goals a game, being heavily tagged.
Swans player development officer Steve Thomson, who has run the house which has sometimes sheltered Garlett, said the AFL club that took Garlett would have "no regrets''.
"No one can lay a glove on him,'' Thomson said.
"And his kicking is elite.
"He makes the football talk.
"If he doesn't get drafted in his career, he will be the best player I've seen to never get drafted.''
Thomson says the 181cm speedster has settled down off the field, fuelling hope of a remarkable tale of redemption.
With the strong support of his girlfriend's family and the Swans Districts Football Club, the former party boy attends a personal trainer course four days a week.
He is sleeping regular hours and eating properly.
Thomson says he is helping teach other indigenous youngsters how to ``properly fuel their bodies''.
Garlett posted photographs of himself drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes on social media in the lead-up to last year's national draft, which were published in a Western Australian newspaper.
But Garlett said he was serious about getting his act together.
"Definitely those off-field issues are gone and I'm making progress step-by-step,'' Garlett said.
"I'm studying and playing good footy, but it's not just on-field - it's off-field.''
Thomson said he wasn't surprised when Garlett was overlooked at last year's draft, but this season is shaping up differently.
"Missing out last year did hurt him and shake him up and you questioned whether he was going to go on with it (footy) or not.
"Pre-season started and he wasn't with us (at training) for a while, but the setback in the end was one that had to happen.
"It was a good call (from clubs overlooking him).
"Instead of getting him in the system, when he would probably have come straight back out, he will go in there a lot better prepared.
Thomson is convinced the run and carry machine would reward whichever club plucks him.
If the draft was tomorrow, Thomson was certain he would find an AFL home.
It is believed Hawthorn, St Kilda, Collingwood and Fremantle has showed the most interest in the past.
"Once someone does take that chance, they will have no regrets, '' Thomson said.
"He will chew up as much work as a club can put on his plate.
"The rest of things took time for him to mature and grow up a touch. To understand what direction he wanted to go in.
"His football can match anyone, it's just getting used to the day to day rigours of AFL-life that he has had to work on, but he definitely has showed he is on the right track.''
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/shunned-young-gun-dayle-garlett-says-he-is-a-changed-man-and-ready-for-afl-football/story-e6frf9jf-1226652508331
