Maskos tips early Garlett debut
Gold Coast recruit Jarrod Garlett could belie his light frame and have an impact at senior level sooner rather than later, according to former South Fremantle colts coach Arthur Maskos.
Garlett became the second WA player selected in Thursday's national draft when the Suns read out his name at pick No.15.
He will join fellow draftees Peter Wright and Touk Miller on the Gold Coast next week.
The 177cm, 73kg wingman had been told the Suns were likely to select him in the lead-up to the draft, but said he was still in a state of shock when he saw his name on the television.
"I had a big smile one my face, I couldn't do nothing," he said.
Garlett said he was eager to start his AFL career and was still coming to terms with the fact he will train and potentially play alongside dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett and the rest of the Suns' emerging talent.
"I look up to (Harley) Bennell, Jacko Martin, (Dion) Prestia, a lot of the boys," he said.
"It will be a real honour to play with Ablett as well. It will be one of the best experiences I reckon."
Garlett watched the draft in South Lake with family and friends.
He said the room erupted once he was drafted, but no one was prouder than his grandfather, the Rev. Sealin Garlett, who gave him an enormous hug.
"I think it would have went for about three minutes," he said.
Garlett emerged as a potential first-round pick this year on the back of electrifying performances in WA's final two games of the under-18 championships.
He had missed the earlier fixtures with a calf injury.
His star continued to rise when he made his league debut for South Fremantle.
Maskos said Garlett was possibly the most talented player in the Bulldogs colts system.
He predicted the 18-year-old would push for his AFL debut at some point in 2015.
"He played senior football for South Fremantle this year so I don't see there would be any major problem," Maskos said.
"He wouldn't shirk the issue."
Maskos said plenty of recruiters viewed Garlett as a pure wingman, but there was far more to his game than that.
"He can play inside and outside," he said.
"Because of his speed and his light body everyone says that he's more of an outside player or small forward, but he plays inside just as well."
