On his first full day in Utah, Taylor Garner did something he’s never done before; stepped onto the training track with bona fide AFL players.
While he didn’t participate in the full session, the little taste was enough to show him what it’s all about.
While he didn’t participate in the full session, the little taste was enough to show him what it’s all about.
PRESS PLAY to watch Garner's interview | YouTube
“This is my first time up close and personal with the boys and there are some big boys here,” Garner told kangaroos.com.au in Utah.
“I have to get to that stage because I’m a long way off where they are, but I’m looking forward to putting that weight on and being taught how to get through it all.
“Putting on some size would have to be a key for me and improving my endurance…I’ll be struggling here for a bit. But I’ll be aiming to get up there and be elite like the rest of them here.”
After some skills and running the 18-year old was glad to get through.
“It was definitely a lot harder than I thought it would be…I’m enjoying it, meeting the new players.
“You don’t know many of the boy’s names and they don’t know much about you, you don’t know much about them, but I’m sure once all that’s all clear it’ll be good.”
However Garner is restricted in what he’s able to do because of a recent shoulder reconstruction.
“I suppose you’ve got to prove yourself in a way…I knew it was going to be hard and a challenge especially being underdone with the shoulder. I just wanted to give it my best.
“It (the operation) was just after the Carnival…I played one more game after that and then called it off from then…it was just niggling and the specialist decided to do the reconstruction before it got any worse.
“That was three and half months ago now and I should be right to get back into some contact work after Christmas…(I) started running in the last month hopefully (I can) just catch up now.”
Rewinding back a few weeks and Garner says he was rapt to have his name called out by the Roos on Draft night.
“I was definitely very nervous…it was more so around the North pick where my heart started racing a bit…I was stoked even to be Melbourne bound, means you can stay close to your family…but just the opportunity will be great.
“Initially I didn’t know much about North but looking up about them and obviously they’re an up and coming club, it’s good to be amongst it now.”
The small forward thrilled to have his family by his side.
“They were just excited for me and happy for me…mum was in tears almost, she was just stoked. It was such a good feeling. …I spoke to North a fair bit in the lead up to the Draft through Brady Rawlings and Mark Finnigan.”
Days later he met Brent Harvey for a run along with the rest of the draftees and was careful not to be too over-awed.
“We had the first training session with Boomer and he was like really supportive about our development…that was really impressive.
“You look at him and you’re like, ‘Ooh, this guy…he’s the big dog around here’, but not too start struck it’s good to just like get to sort of know him.”
So what can North Melbourne fans expect from Garner in the coming years?
“Probably a half-forward, I like to go in as hard as I possibly can…hopefully yeah, just get the best out of myself and the team.”
“This is my first time up close and personal with the boys and there are some big boys here,” Garner told kangaroos.com.au in Utah.
“I have to get to that stage because I’m a long way off where they are, but I’m looking forward to putting that weight on and being taught how to get through it all.
“Putting on some size would have to be a key for me and improving my endurance…I’ll be struggling here for a bit. But I’ll be aiming to get up there and be elite like the rest of them here.”
After some skills and running the 18-year old was glad to get through.
“It was definitely a lot harder than I thought it would be…I’m enjoying it, meeting the new players.
“You don’t know many of the boy’s names and they don’t know much about you, you don’t know much about them, but I’m sure once all that’s all clear it’ll be good.”
However Garner is restricted in what he’s able to do because of a recent shoulder reconstruction.
“I suppose you’ve got to prove yourself in a way…I knew it was going to be hard and a challenge especially being underdone with the shoulder. I just wanted to give it my best.
“It (the operation) was just after the Carnival…I played one more game after that and then called it off from then…it was just niggling and the specialist decided to do the reconstruction before it got any worse.
“That was three and half months ago now and I should be right to get back into some contact work after Christmas…(I) started running in the last month hopefully (I can) just catch up now.”
Rewinding back a few weeks and Garner says he was rapt to have his name called out by the Roos on Draft night.
“I was definitely very nervous…it was more so around the North pick where my heart started racing a bit…I was stoked even to be Melbourne bound, means you can stay close to your family…but just the opportunity will be great.
“Initially I didn’t know much about North but looking up about them and obviously they’re an up and coming club, it’s good to be amongst it now.”
The small forward thrilled to have his family by his side.
“They were just excited for me and happy for me…mum was in tears almost, she was just stoked. It was such a good feeling. …I spoke to North a fair bit in the lead up to the Draft through Brady Rawlings and Mark Finnigan.”
Days later he met Brent Harvey for a run along with the rest of the draftees and was careful not to be too over-awed.
“We had the first training session with Boomer and he was like really supportive about our development…that was really impressive.
“You look at him and you’re like, ‘Ooh, this guy…he’s the big dog around here’, but not too start struck it’s good to just like get to sort of know him.”
So what can North Melbourne fans expect from Garner in the coming years?
“Probably a half-forward, I like to go in as hard as I possibly can…hopefully yeah, just get the best out of myself and the team.”
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