“I’m still enjoying it, still loving it,” he said, in a quick break between training commitments in the great space at Visy Park this week.
“Carlton’s a great place to be around at the moment. You go to the games really hoping the boys can get up and have a win, because the environment at the club lifts and it filters down from the top.
“The whole experience is pretty full-on. It’s a big step up in terms of training and playing, and sometimes you can get a bit tired . . . but these are things you just have to work through.”
In the months since a bout of osteitis pubis interrupted his pre-season preparations, Jaryd has steadily strung together a sequence of creditable performances for the Northern Bullants. It’s all part of the learning process en route to what the 19 year-old St Kevins boy hopes will be that happy day when he runs out sporting the No.28 dark Navy Blue guernsey made famous by Peter Jones . . . whenever that may be.
“I’m still learning the ropes in the VFL in 2010 and that was always part of the plan,” Jaryd said. “It was never about putting pressure on myself to play senior football at all this year, but more a case of wanting to keep improving because I’ve still got a lot to learn.
“Right now the groins are feeling pretty good and it’s now just a matter of recovering properly after each game and getting my body right there.”
By his own admission, Jaryd’s recent performance against Coburg didn’t measure up to his own expectations, but generally speaking he’s been happy with his form. Having been utilised in a number of roles forward, back and midfield, as well as on and off the bench by Bullants Coach David Teague, Jaryd has responded positively.
“I’m still finding it a little frustrating to get settled in games, but I’ve just got to work through that as a first-year player,” he said. “l wouldn’t have played a full game in the one position yet, which I was used to doing in the Under 18s, but that’s all part of the learning process and it’s really good.
