Carlton Football Club has selected former Gold Coast Suns player Jarrod Garlett with pick 78 in the 2017 NAB AFL National Draft.

Originally hailing from Western Australia, Garlett was drafted to the Suns with their first-round selection in 2014.

After playing 17 games and kicking 10 goals for Gold Coast, Garlett made the tough decision last year to return home and give up his AFL contract to be with his terminally ill brother.

Since returning to WA his brother has thankfully made a miraculous recovery, stunning every doctor in the process. Garlett believes everything happens for a reason, with the pacy midfielder now focused on living his dream to once again play AFL.

With pace, toughness and damaging skills in his bag of tricks, Carlton’s GM of List Management and Strategy Stephen Silvagni said Garlett will provide plenty of run and dash for the Blues.

“Jarrod has managed to play some great footy in the WAFL after leaving the AFL system for family reasons,” Silvagni said.

“He has great skills on both sides and has elite speed – so he’ll be a very valuable player.”

Welcome, Jarrod!

DOB: 03.05.1996

Position: Forward

Height: 181cm

Weight: 68kg

Club: South Fremantle

He said it:

“Everything there with my family now is all cleared up and it’s all going really well. I feel that I’m at that point in my life where I know where I need to be and what I need to do. If I get drafted again, it doesn’t bother me where.”

– In The Western Australian, Garlett discusses his desire to return to the AFL system after his brother got the all clear from doctors.