New Blue ready to handle AFL debut
Carlton's top draft pick, classy indigenous forward Chris Yarran, is confident a successful year of senior football in Western Australia has him prepared to step straight into the AFL.
While most of his fellow draftees were playing under age football this year, 17-year-old Yarran was helping WAFL side Swan Districts into the grand final as their leading goal-kicker.
His 39 goals in 13 games, including seven on debut, and his blend of pace, agility and slick ball-handling have created plenty of excitement.
He has already been likened to Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli, who played every game in his first year with the Hawks, including a starring role in their premiership win.
"It's kind of good, I guess," Yarran said of those comparisons.
"Because he's gone well in his first year last year and hopefully I can do the same in the navy blue."
Well built compared to most teenagers new to the AFL system, the youngster believed his experience against men had him well prepared for a quick transition.
"I think I am, playing with such bigger bodies in the WAFL made it also a bit easier in the under 18s (national) carnival as well," he said.
"I don't expect too much next year, but whatever comes along comes along."
He was particularly looking forward to running out alongside two of the Blues' biggest stars.
"I was thinking about it just the other night, running onto the park with Chris Judd and (Brendan) Fevola, it's a pretty amazing combination Carlton have got," he said.
"So hopefully I can get alongside them and have a good few games with them."
Fevola, who dominated Carlton's goal-kicking with 99 this year, is likely looking forward to having Yarran step up and share the load.
Blues recruiting manager Wayne Hughes said while that was the initial aim, Yarran was earmarked to eventually be a midfielder, once he developed greater aerobic capacity.
Yarran and the Blues' other three national draftees - Mitch Robinson, Rhys O'Keeffe and Caleb Tiller - were set to join their new teammates at a training camp in Anglesea on Wednesday.
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