IT TOOK some time but by late Tuesday night the future of delisted Gold Coast forward Jarrod Garlett became clear.

He won't be playing in the AFL in 2017 due to personal circumstance, but if he chose to re-enter the fray in 2018, there is no impediment to him doing so.

The basic facts are straightforward although things became a little unclear midway through Tuesday. 

The Suns had agreed to Garlett's request to return home for family reasons as the player had indicated he had no intention of playing in 2017 and the two-year contract he had signed in August was, by mutual agreement, set aside.

Garlett was subsequently delisted which meant under AFL rules the Suns could fill the spot on the list left vacant at the upcoming draft or delisted free agency period.

While it is never ideal for a club to lose a talented young player selected at pick No.15 two years into his career, the Suns and Garlett's management were able to come to an agreement in the player and his family's best interests. 

However, the effect of his delisting (and Gold Coast's ability to replace him in 2017) under AFL rules was that the Suns relinquished any further rights over the 20-year-old and could not trade him at the end of next season if he decided he wanted to play on in 2018. 

Again, not an ideal situation for any club but one the Suns had accepted in the knowledge that they and the player had worked together in good faith to resolve the situation but the time had come to move forward. 

The waters however were muddied when the original media release from the Suns on Tuesday afternoon indicated the delisted player would not be able to play in the AFL at all for the duration of the original two-year contract. 

This appeared unusual and had many people scratching their heads as to how such an agreement could be in place between player and club.

At least one party to the agreement was of the understanding that Garlett could nominate for the 2017 NAB AFL Draft to resume his career in 2018.

A subsequent media release from the Suns late on Tuesday night cleared the matter up.

Our previous statement indicated that Jarrod would not be able to play at AFL level for the next two seasons (the duration of his contract).  However, whilst Jarrod has indicated that he has no desire to play football at AFL level in 2017, there is no restriction on him thereafter. 

So Garlett goes in good faith to deal with matters more important than football and the Suns have the opportunity to fill his spot on the list for next year. 

If the talented Garlett wants to restart his career in a year the rules allow him to do so, which while not ideal for the Suns, would be good for football if the young man wants to play again.

And the Suns get to go again, a minor administrative mistake fading into the background by the time they get to the draft on November 25 with picks 4, 6, 8 and 10 in the kit and, after Tuesday, Michael Barlow on the list.