West Australian Dayle Garlett in action at the AFL Draft Combine. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Limited
Regular telephone conversations with dual Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson could have Garlett firmly on course to join the AFL premier.
Clarkson is also understood to be responsible for the sometimes wayward Garlett attending a 9am meeting with Hawks officials less than 24 hours after his WAFL club Swan Districts bowed out of finals in early September.
Fronting a Hawks contingent first thing the next day seems to have been a carefully plotted test of character and commitment from Garlett.
Garlett, 19, was encouraged not to associate with his Swans teammates at traditional ``Mad Monday'' festivities and has also taken on a strict training schedule since the end of his WAFL commitments ahead of the AFL National Draft on November 21.
North Melbourne and Essendon are also understood to have the small forward on their radar.
North is believed to be even considering placing Garlett with reigning fairest-and-best and another West Australian product Daniel Wells as a live-in minder and mentor.
But North could miss out on Garlett after the Roos had to commit to Luke McDonald with their first choice at pick No.8 in a father-son selection ahead of the draft.
Clarkson's Hawks have a first choice at No.24, while the Bombers enter the selection process at 26 with the pick they have from trading Stewart Crameri to the Western Bulldogs.
Swans football operations boss and former Fremantle recruiter Phil Smart said Garlett had responded to missing out on last year's draft
``He handled himself really well on and off the field since being pretty severely knocked around mentally with being overlooked last year,'' Smart said.
``He's been very responsible to his football and his off-field development and he's definitely ready for his shot at the AFL now, if a club will give him his chance. He will be a very, very good AFL player.
``He probably needs to work on the defensive side of his game, like a lot of young players that can dominate a game offensively before going into the AFL. He will learn that.''
Smart confirmed Garlett had followed a strict training schedule at Swans over the past month, working out in the gymnasium four times a week.
Garlett was touted as top-10 draft pick last year but overlooked when reports of his off-field indiscretions raged among top recruiters and talent scouts.
Garlett played 19 senior games at Swans this season, kicking an impressive 48 goals.
02 Nov, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/hawthorn-eyes-exciting-west-australian-dayle-garlett/story-fnelctok-1226751807813?from=public_rss
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