Dayle Garlett was overlooked in the 2013 draft because of off-field troubles before being offered a chance by Hawthorn.Source: News Limited
WHILE his former Hawthorn teammates were celebrating this year’s AFL premiership, Dayle Garlett was in jail.
Now it has been revealed why.
The 20-year-old from Western Australia — who is one of the most talented footballers his age in the country — committed several burglaries to feed a meth addiction he developed while trying to kickstart an AFL career in Melbourne.
Handed a lifeline by the Hawks after being overlooked in the 2012 draft, Garlett resorted to a life of crime after deciding he couldn’t meet the demands of AFL football in March.
In May, when a position he could have filled in the Hawthorn side opened up because of an injury to Cyril Rioli, Garlett bought iPads and jewellery for $350 despite knowing they were stolen.
Dayle Garlett at Hawthorn training at Box Hill Oval last December. Picture: Michael Klein. Source: News Limited
Garlett stole items worth more than $4500 Source: Getty Images
In July, when the Hawks moved to the top of the AFL ladder with wins against Sydney and the Western Bulldogs, he broke into a friend’s house and stole a purse and phone belonging to a cleaner.
Then in September, as Luke Hodge led his team to its third premiership since 2008, Garlett broke into another house, stealing laptops, iPads, a phone and clothes worth more than $4500.
After being arrested and spending two months behind bars, Garlett avoided further jail time when his charges were heard in the Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty to two stealing charges and others of aggravated burglary, breach of bail, burglary, committing an offence in a dwelling and receiving stolen goods.
He was fined almost $500, ordered to pay compensation of $4859, perform 60 hours of community service and given a 12-month strict supervision order.
After his pleas were entered, Perth magistrate Paul Heany told the court Garlett had revealed to a psychiatrist he developed an addiction to methylamphetamine during his six-month stay with Hawthorn and turned to crime to feed it.
Garlett cited homesickness when quitting Hawthorn in March. He now hopes to train with his former WAFL club Swan Districts this month.
