NEW RICHMOND recruit Chris Yarran has described his departure from Carlton as "heartbreaking" but feared he would be lost to the game entirely if he stayed at the Blues.
The 24-year-old half-back has spoken for the first time since becoming a Tiger last month in the dying stages of the NAB AFL Trade Period.
After a horrible 2015 season that resulted in suspension, two demotions to the VFL and a hamstring injury, Yarran said he believed he could have ended up on football's scrapheap if he wasn't given the chance to embrace a new challenge.
"It was very important for myself to get a fresh start because who knows, if I'd stayed at the other club, I might have parted ways with footy forever if I'd kept going the way I was going," Yarran told the club's website this week.
"A fresh start is just what I needed.
"Obviously it was well documented last year that I wasn't playing the way I would have liked but I'm just thankful Richmond gave me the opportunity to play for a great club and hopefully I can return the favour."
Yarran played 119 games for the Blues after being drafted with pick No.6 overall in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.
It wasn't until last season he fell drastically out of form, after finishing fourth in the best and fairest in 2014 in a career-best season.
While he'll be reunited with ex-Blues Shaun Hampson and Shaun Grigg and a fellow former Swan Districts player in Alex Rance at Punt Road, he says the move was hard but had to happen.
"It was heartbreaking because I was at Carlton for seven years and I'll always have a soft spot for them but it was time for me to move on," he said.
"Both parties agreed it was in our best interests we parted ways."
Yarran's trade, which was finalised for the Tigers' second-round draft pick of No.19, didn't go through until the final minutes of the player movement window.
After going through a "frustrating" wait to see if he'd get the fresh start he craved, Yarran has now set his sights on helping the Tigers win a final after their three failed starts in as many years.
"I personally believe that Richmond are close to competing for the ultimate prize and hopefully I can contribute in that area," he said.
"Certainly their last few years have been pretty good, even though they didn't win a final.
"You've got [Trent] Cotchin, [Dustin] Martin, [Brett] Deledio … these types I think will push further in September next year and hopefully I can play some part it in that."
Filling a role across half-back, with time also spent on the wing and at half-forward, is on Yarran's agenda after a seamless off-season to date.
He's started training ahead of schedule and remains confident he has plenty to offer.
"I had no operations at the end of last year so it's a clean slate since I've come across to Richmond," he said.
"I'm not 26 until late next year so I still believe with my footy there's a lot there to improve on.
"It's just a matter of getting that consistency.
"We'll see how we go and hopefully I'll put my best foot forward and we'll go deep into September."
