The pick 15 in the 2012 National Draft injured his ankle in an innocuous incident, rolling it on a curb after stepping out of his car.
Speaking to NMFC.com.au, Garner explained how it became a month-long issue.
“After I initially hurt it, I re-injured it at training two weeks later,” the 18-year-old said.
“So it was a niggling thing that was also inflamed. It was very frustrating times.”
“Rehab is not the most enjoyable thing going around. It was all about getting through it and trying to get back out on the track as soon as possible.”
When Garner has been training, he has been groomed to play one of the toughest roles on the field; the forward/midfield position.
It’s a role Leigh Adams plays most weeks and true to ‘Patch’s’ character, he has taken Garner under his wing.
“Taylor plays a pretty similar role to me and I just try and explain to him that the intensity he needs to bring to the VFL has to be higher than that of regular VFL players, because if he wants to get up to that AFL level, it has to be a lot higher for him,” Adams said.
“He’s developing really well. He’s taking everything on board I’m helping him with and I think he’s going to be a really good player down the track.”
Garner is grateful for Adams’ support.
“Patch and I were sitting out most of the drills in the pre-season because of our shoulders so it was good to learn from him.
“Watching him, you see where he picks up the footy and he’s up the other side of the ground.”
In the TAC Cup, Garner spent the majority of his time playing as a third tall up forward, so the contrast at North has been steep.
“Playing more as a third tall meant it was a role that required me to stay inside the forward 50 a little more.
“The mid-forward role means a lot more running and hit-up leads further up the ground. It takes a while to get used to but on the weekend, I felt more comfortable in the position and was getting more of the ball in that role.”
North development Josh Drummond is well aware of just how much the youngster has improved in a short time.
“He struggled early in the year in knowing his leading patterns and knowing exactly where to be and at what time. It’s one of the hardest positions in the ground to play and in his first game back after not doing anything for a month, he was really good.
“From a competitive point of view, he really tackles hard and his aggression on the ball is really good. He gives North Ballarat real life up forward.”
From Adams to Drummond and everyone in between, the culture of Aegis Park has helped Garner feel at home despite it being only halfway through the year.
“It was pretty surreal when I came to North. I looked at everyone and thought, ‘I’m that far away from where these boys are.’ Then you train alongside them, you develop friendships and everyone’s been brilliant to me.”
