Garland growing in stature
Matt Burgan speaks to Colin Garland about his new contract, his shift up forward and leadership
Garland and McKenzie locked in three year deals and McDonald inked a two year contract. For Garland - the most experienced of the trio - it was still a humbling experience, considering he has been through contract extensions before.
But the 24 year-old is that type of person.
Considering he is an integral part of Melbourne’s make-up - he’s arguably even more valuable now, given his ability to play up forward in recent times - Garland was simply delighted the club showed its belief in him.
“It was good that the club showed so much faith in me, especially with a long deal,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“With the leadership I’ve been doing this year and my involvement in the club, it’s really positive that I can be here for another three years and help the club out.”
“It’s great to have Jordie and Tommy [re-sign] as well, as they’re going to be important parts of our team going forward. They both look like they could be 200-game players, so it’s good to have them on board.”
From Garland’s perspective, there was never any thought of looking at alternatives.
“I don’t think there has been any real issue of players leaving the club at all - we’re all on board. Even though this year has been pretty tough, the club’s standards and training have been raised.
“So there were no thoughts about not re-signing.”
As noted, Garland has played up forward since round 10, when Melbourne won its first match of the season against Essendon. It was a position he played as a junior and in the very early stages of his career with Melbourne, until he made his name as a defender.
But the switch has somewhat reinvigorated his game, as he explained.
“It’s been different. Originally, we went up there to help out Clarky (Mitch Clark) a little bit and provide another target. He went down, so I’ve had to step up in a leadership role down there and help out the structures and add some voice,” he said.
“But I’m happy to play anywhere, and whether it’s a long term thing - I’m not sure. I’ve been going all right down there and playing my role by putting some forward pressure on.
“It’s been good and it’s been enjoyable, but hopefully I can provide a bit of flexibility in that aspect and I can play back and I can play forward, when needed during games.”
Garland indicated that he is likely to spend much time up forward for the rest of the season, given Clark’s foot injury has sidelined him for the rest of 2012. But for the long term, he’s not sure.
“It all depends on the make-up of the side. We’ve got a lot of tall backs at the moment - even though this year I haven’t been playing tall - and we’ve got a lot more depth in the backline,” he said.
“It is a possibility that I might stay up there and play a higher marking type player, once we get Clark in and Stef playing consistently. And with Howey, maybe I can play that third or fourth tall up forward.
“I’m unsure and I haven’t really spoken about the long term, as it’s been week to week at the moment. Maybe at the end of the year, they’ll decide either way.”
Regardless, Garland said he didn’t have a personal preference about what his role is in the future.
“Not really. I made my name down back, and I’m really close to the backline guys, but in saying that, I’ve really enjoyed the challenge and I feel as though I’m learning again,” he said.
“When you play a certain position for a long time and then to get a fresh start somewhere else, it’s a good challenge that I’ve really enjoyed.
“I feel as though I’m back to school learning more things and new techniques. Eventually, if I go back, it’s going to help me as well. And if I stay forward, I feel as though I’ve learned a few techniques that I’ve learned from forwards that I can use.”
Garland, who was included in this year’s leadership group, said it was an area of which he had relished being a part.
“The way it’s structured and the people in there and the people running it - it’s been really good for a football sense and a personal sense,” he said.
“All of the eight guys who are in it - we’ve all learnt incredibly in the six months we’ve been in it.
“Neil Craig, Jade Rawlings and Josh Mahoney are in there and we’ve got some senior management guys who come in and out, so we’re learning many things in there.”
Although quietly spoken, Garland is a strong character, yet he believes his voice and direction on the field has been his biggest improvement.
“That’s been the hardest bit for me, because I’m not the loudest guy going around. That’s probably been the part that’s taken me a lot longer,” he said.
“As the season’s gone on, I’ve really developed that side of my game and I think it’s helped me come out of my shell a bit. If I’m not getting a touch on the footy, I can still feel part of the game by setting up structures and helping with voice and reminding about the key things we want to get out of games.”
Reflecting on the overall changes at the club this season, Garland said he had learned plenty from the Mark Neeld-led era, but added that his previous coaches had been invaluable in his development.
“All the coaches I’ve had at Melbourne, I’ve really enjoyed learning from, and I’m really grateful for the coaches who have come through,” he said.
“From the football department last year, I got on really well with them, and they were still trying to get the best out of us.
“But with the new direction, because I’m a bit older and I’ve been around the club for six years now, I feel really on board with it, and I feel I can make a difference and help get things in place for the future.
“Jade Rawlings, who was my line coach for the pre-season and the majority of this year, I’ve had a really good close relationship with. He’s from Tassie as well, and he’s really challenged myself and others in the backline who have played together for a long period.
“At training and game reviews, the standards have gone to a new level and the things that are being put in place are going to hold us in good stead, when we start to come back up the ladder.”