It is unusual for a player to be positive about a suspension, but in Taylor Garner’s case, he’s glad he was given an opportunity to learn from his mistakes, and improve as a person.

The 25-year-old was slapped with a one month-ban from playing AFL, ordered to work full-time Monday to Friday and had to train with the VFL side in the evenings, after a drunken night out in Sydney.

He also offered to pay $5,000 to charity.

Instead of complaining about the heavy-handed club-imposed sanction, the talented forward copped it all on the chin.

“It was embarrassing obviously,” Garner told North Media.

“You never want to see your name splashed all over the papers for the wrong reasons.

“But if you don’t learn from these things, you’d have to be pretty stupid.

“I definitely wanted to look at it as an opportunity to learn from my mistakes and come back better for it. If you can’t learn from that, you won’t grow as a person.

“I certainly won’t be putting myself in a situation like that again.

“The penalty, in terms of its severity, was never a problem. It was always about what happened that night and that it could have been a lot worse. I’m obviously remorseful for that.”

Garner worked with mortgage broker, Darren Moon at 2 Moons Financial Solutions, for four weeks and experienced what life without football would be like.

“It was a challenge,” he said.

“I’d work nine-to-five and then have to come to the club for VFL training and weights, so I was going to bed a lot earlier than I normally would, that’s for sure.

“It was more mentally tiring I suppose. I had a lot more going on and got to appreciate what people do everyday in the working industry.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity and for the club’s approach to everything.

“It was hard being away from the boys and going back to handshakes with my teammates whenever I bumped into them.

“It wasn’t good being away from the environment and the boys, and I just hope I can show everyone that I’m better for the experience.”