NORTH Melbourne has reaffirmed its faith in Taylor Garner despite his injury-plagued 2014 season, re-signing the exciting young forward to a new two-year deal.
Garner was North's first pick in the 2012 national draft, at No. 15 overall, and played two games in his debut season last year.
Garner has yet to add to that tally in 2014, having been sidelined since suffering a hamstring tendon injury in North's NAB Challenge game against Hawthorn in late February.
But North announced on Thursday morning it had re-signed Garner, who was due to come out of contract at the end of this season, to the end of 2016.
Garner, 20, told the club's website he had entered this year intent on playing more senior games, not on being a long-term member of North's rehabilitation group.
"It's been a really frustrating year for me and I'm definitely sick of the inside of the gym and all the rehab," Garner said.
"All I want to be doing is playing football with the boys, but I have to get my fitness right first. It's a slow process and it's been pretty annoying to be honest.
"I saw this year as the chance for me to play more games obviously, but the injury has set me back a fair way.
"For the club to commit to me for another two years is great and gives me some confidence."
North coach Brad Scott said on Wednesday that when fully fit Garner would be an ideal replacement for injured small forward Robin Nahas (shoulder).
Garner hasn't given up hope of returning to North's team this season, but says he still faces "a few more weeks on the sidelines", after which his immediate focus will be on having an impact with North Ballarat in the VFL.
The former Dandenong Stingray says the one silver lining to his 2014 season so far has been the extra time he's had to work in the gym.
"I'm not the biggest of blokes, so if this time helps with my overall development and puts me in a good position down the track with regards to my strength and power out on the field, then I'll look back and say getting injured was actually a good thing," Garner says.
"It's going to be up to me to make sure that's the case."
