CARLTON swore ex-Gold Coast livewire Jarrod Garlett to secrecy about its interest in him, months before making him the shock last pick in the NAB AFL Draft.
Garlett spent the season playing for his original WAFL club South Fremantle after quitting the Suns at the end of 2016 – with two years to run on his contract – on compassionate grounds.
The 21-year-old, who played 17 games in two seasons at Gold Coast, arrives as a readymade recruit and is adamant homesickness won't be a problem for him the second time around.
Where Garlett was once the No.15 selection in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, he cost the Blues only the 78th pick last Friday night.
"I'm actually feeling pretty privileged to get a second chance back in the AFL system," Garlett said on Wednesday.
"Just being here since Saturday, Carlton feels like a great club to be at and I'm just really looking forward to starting this new pre-season and getting into the first JLTs … it feels like it's a real good culture here.
"I feel way better compared to when I first moved away – I feel a lot more comfortable and know what to expect now – and I know I'm feeling way more settled than I was at Gold Coast."
Garlett's life changed in an instant last year when his brother, Desmond Lawson, told him he had a burst blood vessel on his brain and doctors had given him as few as six months to live.
The news came just weeks after the 2016 NAB AFL Trade Period.
His manager, Liam Pickering, organised an early exit from his contract and the Suns removed an initial clause that would have forced him out of AFL football until at least 2019.
Lawson has since made a remarkable recovery, which was the impetus behind his brother's wish to reignite his AFL career.
Garlett has moved in with his cousin and fellow Blue Jarrod Pickett, and said having more indigenous teammates, such as Sam Petrevski-Seton and Liam Jones, helped with the transition.
He also rated Carlton's support system as superior to what the Suns offered him.
"I'm in a really good place mentally," he said.
"I have a little one (child) on the way, so that's helping me to be more determined to push harder, work harder and stay in the system longer.
"I'm just ready to settle down at this club and I'm really enjoying Melbourne at the moment, so I'm pretty happy.
"We have way more support than what I had back at the Gold Coast Suns."
Garlett spent much of the WAFL season performing an attacking role off half-back, but said he was comfortable playing through the midfield and up forward.
He may slot into Sam Docherty's defensive role, with the All Australian suffering a season-ending knee injury a fortnight ago in the Blues' opening week of pre-season.
Garlett promised to bring speed, endurance and flair to his new club and an attitude to "take the game on".
"I feel like I get a lot of my dash off that back half and (am also) comfortable running through the midfield in any position – inside or out," he said.
"I feel like my body has matured a bit more – it's got a bit stronger than it was – and I don't mind getting down forward and getting a few snags."
