The 20-year-old will run out for North Ballarat against Collingwood at TEAC Oval on Saturday with the side looking to secure a grand final berth for the second successive year.
Garlett was a member of the Roosters’ 2008 premiership triumph and said that experience had encouraged the development that saw him play five AFL matches this year.
"It goes up another level closer to AFL so it was good to play in a grand final where the tempo’s up. It was good to get the opportunity," he said.
Garlett started 2009 by representing the Qantas AFL Indigenous All-Stars in their clash with Adelaide and was then selected for North Melbourne’s NAB Cup opener against Carlton.
However, on the eve of the season proper, he suffered an ankle injury at training and was sidelined for the first three weeks of the VFL campaign.
He fought back in an onball role to eventually earn his North Melbourne debut against the Crows in round 12 and held his spot for the Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans.
Garlett had been used as a small forward in the three games but was handed the significant task of going head-to-head with St Kilda’s Leigh Montagna upon his recall in round 21.
The West Australian finished with 20 possessions and eight tackles compared to Montagna’s 27, but more importantly North upset the ladder leader for just its second loss of the season.
"He just took me to the ball," Garlett said. "It was good to watch how the best midfielders do their work.
"I’d never really played that sort of role but it was a good one in the end."
The next week against Port Adelaide, Garlett found 23 possessions when rotated on a number of opponents as North stole another memorable victory.
"He’s one bloke who has just grown and grown," senior assistant coach Darren Crocker said.
"Once he got elevated onto the senior list and played some senior footy towards the end of the year, he showed he could actually play at the level."
The retirement of Adam Simpson and Shannon Watt has created at least two spots on North’s senior list and Garlett said the club had indicated he could be given one of them.
"There’s been a little bit of talk but I haven’t signed any contracts yet," he said. "Hopefully soon I can find out for sure.
"Finals footy is a great atmosphere and it’s when the good players really perform, so hopefully I can have a good couple of weeks and see where that takes me."
Crossing from Perth at the end of 2007, Garlett said he was enjoying life in Melbourne and was excited about what the Roos’ future held.
