WEST Australian speedster Dayle Garlett is confident the off-field indiscretions that saw him removed from the AIS-AFL Academy are a thing of the past and will not affect his standing in this year's draft pool.
Garlett, a smooth-moving onballer who won All Australian honours earlier this year, is widely considered a top-10 pick on talent alone, but the lack of discipline that cost him a spot on the academy tour of Europe is a red flag for prospective AFL clubs.
He's been quizzed at length about his life outside of football by recruiters at the NAB AFL Draft Combine in Melbourne, but he's owned up to the errors of the past and is keen to show he's moved on.
"It was a mistake that I made that got me kicked out, it was a bad choice that I made, but everything has been good since," Garlett says.
"I definitely understand why [they ask me those questions]. I did mess up a fair bit, so I know why.
"I understand why it happened and it made me want to fight for my footy even harder. I really wanted to let everybody know that I was going to change.
"I'm doing much better now. I think I'm more switched on, which is good.
"I reckon I have been able to show recruiters that I'm a better person on the field and off it."
Garlett, a cousin of Carlton's Jeff Garlett, has played senior WAFL football with Swan Districts this year and starred for WA at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, much to the delight of state talent manager Raff Guadagnino.
"I think this year has been a learning experience for Dayle, he's been slapped over the wrist on a national stage, but I think that was probably the best thing for him," Guadagnino says.
"I think he's come out stronger for it. I think mentally he's a lot more mature and he's a lot more stable off the field than he ever has been.
"Dayle's now at a point where he's turned his world around, which is great."
Despite that turnaround, Guadagnino accepts that clubs will still harbour some reservations about spending a valuable first-round pick on Garlett.
But he believes the club that does eventually pounce will reap enormous rewards.
"I think it's always going to be in the back of their minds, but it all comes down to that 'risk versus reward' assessment … that unknown of will Dayle muck up again?" he says.
"If you look at his record this year, he's got himself right off-field, so we're hoping he continues to hold that. I think he's a safe bet.
"I think he really listens to the people that he trusts - more so than ever before - and I think that's a credit to the young man.
"I think he's got a lot more to come. Once he gets his endurance up, gets the right nutrition base and is physically fit, I think the sky's the limit."
Garlett strained his back in the lead-up to the combine and will not participate in any physical testing as a result.
Jason Phelan covers the NAB AFL Draft for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter @AFL_JasonPhelan
