Jeff Garlett loving life and kicking goals at Melbourne after a chaotic 2014 spelled end of time at Carlton
June 7, 2015 3:20pm
Sam EdmundHerald Sun
Jeff Garlett learns indigenous dance
IT’S just before 7am at a Reservoir train station when Jeff Garlett shuffles up to the platform.
A beanie and a hoodie shield him from the winter wind; a set of headphones shut him off from the outside world.
But people notice. There’s the odd double-take as the AFL star boards the train bound for the city and, eventually for him, Melbourne training at AAMI Park.
The myki card in Garlett’s hand is the lingering reminder of a horror 2014 — a year of on and off-field turmoil that not only claimed his licence and time at Carlton, but also derailed his private life.
But a funny thing has been happening on the South Morang line in the last six months. Passengers smile at Garlett and he finds himself smiling back.
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In fact, the 25-year-old has been doing a lot of smiling recently. Settled at home with partner Jessica and son Nason, and settled at his new club, Garlett is again doing what he does best — buzzing around a forward line kicking goals, chasing down defenders and making things happen.
Sitting down with the Herald Sun for a rare interview, it’s clear he’s fallen in love with the game again.
“The key is to be happy,” Garlett said. “That’s like anyone else in life. Having that balance, on and off the field, is helping me play good footy. I’m really happy here at Melbourne and all the boys have made me feel comfortable.”
Melbourne’s Jeff Garlett with Year 4 students during a visit to St Patrick's Primary School, Murrumbeena. Picture: Jason Sammon
Nine rounds into 2015, Garlett has kicked 18 goals from 38 scoring shots — more attempts than Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich and Jarryd Roughead — and injected colour to what was a bland Demons attack. Garlett ranks No.1 for scoreboard impact at Melbourne and No.2 for score involvements.
Garlett’s resurrection goes beyond numbers, though. Melbourne officials and players talk of a man who has blossomed since arriving from the Blues in exchange for two steak knife picks — 61 and 79 — late last year.
Long-time friend and now teammate Neville Jetta shakes his head at the transformation. Garlett isn’t scared to share his thoughts in team meetings and is always thinking of how he can contribute to Melbourne’s rebirth.
All of which seemed implausible last year, when the Garlett-Carlton relationship soured so badly that the exit door became the only option.
It started when, as Garlett suspects, he came back too early from a shoulder reconstruction to play in the Blues’ season-opener against Port Adelaide.
“I wasn’t playing the footy that I wanted to ... I just couldn’t get going,” he said.
“It was hard to get your head around, but every player has been through it. What have you got to do to play the game? To get selected? How do you get started?”
The loss of form led to a loss of trust from coach Mick Malthouse and Garlett’s last appearance for Carlton would come in the narrow Round 12 loss to Geelong.
A month later Garlett’s world was spiralling out of control. Battling relationship troubles, he was caught driving unlicensed in Brunswick, where he also registered a .115 per cent blood alcohol reading.
Then, out on a Saturday night in August to celebrate his 25th birthday with ex-teammate Mitch Robinson, he was knocked out from behind by a plastic traffic bollard in a brutal street brawl.
Garlett lay unconscious on a Lonsdale St footpath for several minutes and later needed four stitches to his head. He came clean to Blues officials the following Monday and later escaped conviction for affray, but angered the club when it emerged five days later that Robinson was also there and had suffered a fractured eye socket.
Player punch-up caught on CCTV
Taken back to that night, Garlett said he “didn’t remember too much of it”.
“But I don’t want to talk about other people, I’m over the past and focusing on the future,” he said.
“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all you can say. I was out celebrating a birthday. Everyone does that, there’s not much you can do.”
If Garlett is tight-lipped about the night that ultimately ended his Carlton career, he is more forthcoming on the demise of the Blues under Mick Malthouse and the breakup of the “Three Amigos” — Eddie Betts, Chris Yarran and himself.
“It was pretty hard. We always had that strong bond. When ‘Ratts’ (former Carlton coach Brett Ratten) was there everyone was close together and then...,” he said, stopping himself.
“We had a good year under Mick in his first year, but we only got in the finals because of all the stuff that happened with Essendon. I was lucky enough to have a good year that year, but then I had the full reco, came back, and it all fell apart.
“I wasn’t playing well, had all the off-field dramas, the coach lost trust in me playing good footy every week and I lost a bit of trust the other way.
Jeff Garlett (left) with teammates Neville Jetta and Jay Kennedy-Harris.
“It could have been different if other people were there, you know? I wasn’t getting along with the coaches, I spoke to my management and they were like, ‘We’ll get you out of there’. As much as I loved the boys and loved the Carlton Football Club, there were different people there. It was a different time.”
He desperately misses playing with Betts and Yarran, with the three still in regular contact. Garlett went to Saturday’s Carlton-Adelaide game to catch up with his old mates.
“We had an awesome team those first three years I was there (Carlton). Me, Eddie ‘Yaz’ in the forward line, they called us The Three Amigos, Setanta’s Little Helpers — we had quite a few names,” Garlett said.
“I definitely miss those times, but I’m really happy now at Melbourne.”
Demons football manager Josh Mahoney hasn’t been surprised at how Garlett has emerged from the storm clouds.
“In our discussions with Jeff, all the things he spoke about was why his form had been off last year could be turned around. It wasn’t like these issues were going to stay with him,” Mahoney said.
“We worked really hard in creating the right environment for him. Making him feel comfortable and making him understand he can trust people within the club.
“What he’s created on-field is another avenue to goal. He gives us another attacking option.”
But he’s giving Melbourne more than that. He’s also giving back.
“What we’re seeing with him is he’s got some initiative and if he thinks he can add value to things he’s willing to talk up and contribute,” Mahoney said.
“When Jeff’s happy and playing good football he gives a lot to the club.”
Jeff Garlett with teammates Neville Jetta and Jay Kennedy-Harris and the Winda-Mara Dance Group.
In the lead-up to indigenous round Garlett organised for relatives of his partner Jessica, who make up the Winda-Mara Dance Group, to perform a dance with the players after training. He also led a 10-player delegation to the Youth Justice Centre, which he visits once a month.
Jetta, who has known Garlett since the pair’s early days at Swan Districts, said his mate now sat among the competition’s premier small forwards.
“He’s playing now like he was two years ago and that’s the level we knew he could play at. He’s a 40-plus goalkicker every year and he’s done that, he doesn’t need to prove anything,” Jetta said.
“Jeff has helped me as much as I’m here to help him.”
Garlett kicked his 200th career goal against Port Adelaide last week and, inspired by watching Adam Goodes from his Alice Springs hotel room the night before, celebrated with Aboriginal dance move, Shake a Leg.
The goal and celebration were done in a pair of specially painted boots for indigenous round, with the Aboriginal artwork fittingly titled ‘Storms Never Last’.
For Garlett, the skies are clear now.
Jeff Garlett loving life and kicking goals at Melbourne after a chaotic 2014 spelled end of time at Carlton June 7, 2015 3:20pm Sam EdmundHerald Sun Jeff Garlett learns indigenous dance IT’S just before 7am at a Reservoir train station when Jeff Garlett shuffles up to the platform. A beanie and a hoodie shield him from the winter wind; a set of headphones shut him off from the outside world. But people notice. There’s the odd double-take as the AFL star boards the train bound for the city and, eventually for him, Melbourne training at AAMI Park. The myki card in Garlett’s hand is the lingering reminder of a horror 2014 — a year of on and off-field turmoil that not only claimed his licence and time at Carlton, but also derailed his private life. But a funny thing has been happening on the South Morang line in the last six months. Passengers smile at Garlett and he finds himself smiling back. Other Stories Foot traffic fears over $54m bridge Stadium’s $54m footbridge revealed Perth Stadium to kick-start new community In fact, the 25-year-old has been doing a lot of smiling recently. Settled at home with partner Jessica and son Nason, and settled at his new club, Garlett is again doing what he does best — buzzing around a forward line kicking goals, chasing down defenders and making things happen. Sitting down with the Herald Sun for a rare interview, it’s clear he’s fallen in love with the game again. “The key is to be happy,” Garlett said. “That’s like anyone else in life. Having that balance, on and off the field, is helping me play good footy. I’m really happy here at Melbourne and all the boys have made me feel comfortable.” Melbourne’s Jeff Garlett with Year 4 students during a visit to St Patrick's Primary School, Murrumbeena. Picture: Jason Sammon Nine rounds into 2015, Garlett has kicked 18 goals from 38 scoring shots — more attempts than Jack Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich and Jarryd Roughead — and injected colour to what was a bland Demons attack. Garlett ranks No.1 for scoreboard impact at Melbourne and No.2 for score involvements. Garlett’s resurrection goes beyond numbers, though. Melbourne officials and players talk of a man who has blossomed since arriving from the Blues in exchange for two steak knife picks — 61 and 79 — late last year. Long-time friend and now teammate Neville Jetta shakes his head at the transformation. Garlett isn’t scared to share his thoughts in team meetings and is always thinking of how he can contribute to Melbourne’s rebirth. All of which seemed implausible last year, when the Garlett-Carlton relationship soured so badly that the exit door became the only option. It started when, as Garlett suspects, he came back too early from a shoulder reconstruction to play in the Blues’ season-opener against Port Adelaide. “I wasn’t playing the footy that I wanted to ... I just couldn’t get going,” he said. “It was hard to get your head around, but every player has been through it. What have you got to do to play the game? To get selected? How do you get started?” The loss of form led to a loss of trust from coach Mick Malthouse and Garlett’s last appearance for Carlton would come in the narrow Round 12 loss to Geelong. A month later Garlett’s world was spiralling out of control. Battling relationship troubles, he was caught driving unlicensed in Brunswick, where he also registered a .115 per cent blood alcohol reading. Then, out on a Saturday night in August to celebrate his 25th birthday with ex-teammate Mitch Robinson, he was knocked out from behind by a plastic traffic bollard in a brutal street brawl. Garlett lay unconscious on a Lonsdale St footpath for several minutes and later needed four stitches to his head. He came clean to Blues officials the following Monday and later escaped conviction for affray, but angered the club when it emerged five days later that Robinson was also there and had suffered a fractured eye socket. Player punch-up caught on CCTV Taken back to that night, Garlett said he “didn’t remember too much of it”. “But I don’t want to talk about other people, I’m over the past and focusing on the future,” he said. “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, that’s all you can say. I was out celebrating a birthday. Everyone does that, there’s not much you can do.” If Garlett is tight-lipped about the night that ultimately ended his Carlton career, he is more forthcoming on the demise of the Blues under Mick Malthouse and the breakup of the “Three Amigos” — Eddie Betts, Chris Yarran and himself. “It was pretty hard. We always had that strong bond. When ‘Ratts’ (former Carlton coach Brett Ratten) was there everyone was close together and then...,” he said, stopping himself. “We had a good year under Mick in his first year, but we only got in the finals because of all the stuff that happened with Essendon. I was lucky enough to have a good year that year, but then I had the full reco, came back, and it all fell apart. “I wasn’t playing well, had all the off-field dramas, the coach lost trust in me playing good footy every week and I lost a bit of trust the other way. Jeff Garlett (left) with teammates Neville Jetta and Jay Kennedy-Harris. “It could have been different if other people were there, you know? I wasn’t getting along with the coaches, I spoke to my management and they were like, ‘We’ll get you out of there’. As much as I loved the boys and loved the Carlton Football Club, there were different people there. It was a different time.” He desperately misses playing with Betts and Yarran, with the three still in regular contact. Garlett went to Saturday’s Carlton-Adelaide game to catch up with his old mates. “We had an awesome team those first three years I was there (Carlton). Me, Eddie ‘Yaz’ in the forward line, they called us The Three Amigos, Setanta’s Little Helpers — we had quite a few names,” Garlett said. “I definitely miss those times, but I’m really happy now at Melbourne.” Demons football manager Josh Mahoney hasn’t been surprised at how Garlett has emerged from the storm clouds. “In our discussions with Jeff, all the things he spoke about was why his form had been off last year could be turned around. It wasn’t like these issues were going to stay with him,” Mahoney said. “We worked really hard in creating the right environment for him. Making him feel comfortable and making him understand he can trust people within the club. “What he’s created on-field is another avenue to goal. He gives us another attacking option.” But he’s giving Melbourne more than that. He’s also giving back. “What we’re seeing with him is he’s got some initiative and if he thinks he can add value to things he’s willing to talk up and contribute,” Mahoney said. “When Jeff’s happy and playing good football he gives a lot to the club.” Jeff Garlett with teammates Neville Jetta and Jay Kennedy-Harris and the Winda-Mara Dance Group. In the lead-up to indigenous round Garlett organised for relatives of his partner Jessica, who make up the Winda-Mara Dance Group, to perform a dance with the players after training. He also led a 10-player delegation to the Youth Justice Centre, which he visits once a month. Jetta, who has known Garlett since the pair’s early days at Swan Districts, said his mate now sat among the competition’s premier small forwards. “He’s playing now like he was two years ago and that’s the level we knew he could play at. He’s a 40-plus goalkicker every year and he’s done that, he doesn’t need to prove anything,” Jetta said. “Jeff has helped me as much as I’m here to help him.” Garlett kicked his 200th career goal against Port Adelaide last week and, inspired by watching Adam Goodes from his Alice Springs hotel room the night before, celebrated with Aboriginal dance move, Shake a Leg. The goal and celebration were done in a pair of specially painted boots for indigenous round, with the Aboriginal artwork fittingly titled ‘Storms Never Last’. For Garlett, the skies are clear now.