Chris Yarran

Chris Yarran
Personal information
Full name	Christopher Yarran
Date of birth	19 December 1990 (1990-12-19) (age 20)
Original team	Swan Districts (WAFL)
Draft	#6, 2008 National Draft, Carlton
Height/Weight	180cm / 84 kg
Position(s)	Defender / Forward
Club information
Current club	Carlton
Number	13
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2009–	Carlton	45 (31)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 season .
Career highlights
2010 AFL Rising Star nominee

Christopher "Chris" Yarran (born 19 December 1990) is an Australian rules footballer with the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Yarran is an indigenous footballer who played his junior years in Western Australia. He was primarily a small forward in his junior days, but he occasionally spent time in the midfield and defence. As a seventeen-year-old, Yarran gained selection into the Swan Districts senior team, where he played thirteen games and scored 39 goals, including seven on debut and eight in three finals matches.^[1][2] He played with Western Australia in the Under 18s championships and scored eight goals in four games.^[3] He was also a member of the AIS/AFL Academy Squad^[4] and captained a team from the Clontarf Football Academy in a game against a visiting South African Under 19's side in February 2007.^[5]

Yarran was a noted talent and was expected to be drafted high,^[6] with some considering him to be the one of most talented players available in the draft.^[7] He would ultimately be selected by the Carlton Football Club with its first round selection (#6 overall) in the 2008 AFL National Draft. At draft time, Carlton coach Brett Ratten said that Yarran could assist fellow small forward Eddie Betts, and help to reduce the defensive pressure on then full-forward Brendan Fevola.^[8]

Yarran played his first senior game for Carlton in Round 7, 2009 against Fremantle. He played sporadically for Carlton during the season, managing six games, but played most of his games with Carlton's VFL-affiliate, the Northern Bullants, including a five-goal performance in the VFL preliminary final. In 2010, Yarran played sixteen games for Carlton, and earned a AFL Rising Star nomination. Throughout that season, Yarran formed part of a short-lived forward-line structure consisting of tall full-forward Setanta Ó hAilpín, and three small forwards (Betts, Yarran, and Yarran's former Swan Districts team-mate Jeff Garlett) who became known as "Setanta's Little Helpers".^[9]

In 2011, coach Brett Ratten abandoned the tactic of playing three small forwards in favour of two: Betts and Garlett. Yarran was moved onto the half-back line, and within the year became a damaging rebounding defender, able to use his speed, agility and accurate disposal to set up much of Carlton's rebound play.^[10]

Yarran featured in the award-winning 2010 documentary film, Three Boys Dreaming, which follows the lives of three young indigenous footballers over a four-year period.

References

1. ^ 2008 Season Statistics
2. ^ Duffield, Mark; Streets ahead in class; 8 November 2008
3. ^ Selection 6: Christopher Yarran
4. ^ Eight AIS/AFL Academy
5. ^ The AFL brings South Africa to Subiaco Oval
6. ^ Townsend, John; Bombers take aim at lively Yarran; 26 September 2008
7. ^ Quayle, Emma; Judgement Day; 23 November 2008
8. ^ Ralph, Jon; Shades of Rioli in recruit Chris Yarran, say experts; 1 December 2008
9. ^ Milbank, Zac (12 May 2010). "Setanta's little helpers on march". The Advertiser. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/setantas-little-helpers-on-march/story-e6freco3-1225865361865. Retrieved 1 Aug 2011. 
10. ^ Stevens, Mark (1 Aug 2011). "A switch to defence has unleased Carlton star Chris Yarran". Herald Sun. Australia. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/a-switch-to-defence-has-unleashed-carlton-star-chris-yarran/story-e6frf9jf-1226105604538. Retrieved 1 Aug 2011. 

Persondata
Name	Yarran, Chris
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	19 December 1990
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death