In 2014, AFL.com.au's Going Places series tracked four players through the year on their way to the draft. This week, we check in to see how each has handled his debut season.

Jarrod Pickett knew as soon as he stepped into Greater Western Sydney that getting a game in his debut season would be difficult.

The repetitive nature of training was harder than he could have anticipated, teammates attacked contests like they hated each other, and everywhere he looked he saw big names and early draft picks. "It was full on, and it took a little bit of time to get used to," Pickett said.

In the nine or so months since, Pickett has come to grips with everything thrown his way: his training standards have lifted, he has added skills to his repertoire, and he has handled the cross-country move from Western Australia with little trouble.

But he's still waiting for a call-up to the GIANTS' AFL team. He's getting close, after recently being named an emergency, but wouldn't be too worried if it didn't happen until 2016.

GOING PLACES: Callum Twomey's piece on Jarrod Pickett leading into last year's draft

"I know I need to be patient. I might get a taste of things towards the end of the year if a spot opens up, but I'm not too fussed if I don't play this year," the 18-year-old said.

"The coaches know where I'm at, and next year is going to be a bigger one for me. We've got a good team. Everyone would have thought a few years ago that it's easy to get a game for the GIANTS, but it's hard."

Pickett, whose speed and run are his major assets, is in no rush. He would rather be ready to play when the time is right, than be afforded a chance before he deserves it.

"Earlier in the NEAFL season I was probably a bit inconsistent, but the last month I have started to play better footy and have been able to hit the scoreboard and get a few tackles," he said.

"This year's taught me you have to be consistent with everything. You have to keep playing well every week if you're competing for spots.

"You've got to be fit. You have to be able to run out quarters and your efforts need to be repetitive."

Pickett has found the move to Sydney a more seamless task. Before last year's draft, Pickett was keen to leave Perth, settle somewhere new and see what life would be like in a different part of the country.

It all happened so fast after the GIANTS grabbed him with pick No. 4 at November's draft: his first day at the club included a medical check and tour of the facilities, before he was driven to his new apartment in Breakfast Point.

The few weeks after that he was without a car, so welfare manager Craig Lambert would text Pickett and flat mate (and fellow top-10 pick) Paul Ahern the night before training, reminding them to set their alarms for 6.30am and be ready out the front soon after.

He has learnt to cook a few more meals, his girlfriend Tahlia has joined him from Perth, and at the end of the year his parents are set to make the shift too.

"When I go back to Perth, I see nothing has really changed. All I do is see my mum and dad and my family, and that's all I need to do. I miss home sometimes, like I miss going fishing with my brother, but that's about it," Pickett said.

"I'm glad I moved. Sydney's like home now. I even know my way around everywhere without a GPS. It took a couple of months for me to do that, but once I went somewhere I'd remember my way there."


Pickett (R) with fellow Indigenous GIANTS Curtly Hampton and Nathan Wilson at the AFL Indigenous Camp

The club has been pleased with Pickett's adjustment on that front, seeing it as the biggest priority of his debut season.

"It's probably the most satisfying thing we've seen with Jarrod, because we need to understand it is a massive move," said GIANTS NEAFL coach and development manager Brett Hand.

"It probably surprised us a little bit with how well he did cope. Some of his training habits weren't where we wanted them to be, but he came around really quickly. He was willing to ask and seek advice."

As well as his GIANTS teammates, Pickett has found an ally across town. He met Sydney Swans midfielder Lewis Jetta while on the indigenous players' camp earlier this year and they struck up a friendship. Every week or two Pickett and Tahlia go to Jetta's place for dinner, and it was only after a few catch-ups did they learn they are related.

"His mum rang him one time and he said 'I'm with Jarrod Pickett' and she goes, 'That's your cousin, you know?'" Pickett said.

"I thought we might've been through one of our grandparents down the line, so that was good to find out. He's a good bloke."

It has been a big year of education for Pickett. After games he sits with Hand and edits his own match vision, picking out good and bad bits. He knows it’s not enough simply to be a goalkicker; the best players tackle, chase, harass, man the mark and go for smothers.

"When cutting his own vision he noticed the difference in his intensity when we had the ball compared to when we didn't," Hand said.

"We've had some really frank and honest conversations with him and have been rapt at how he's taken it on board. The coaches like what they see in him. His personality took a little while to come out, but he says some funny things and he's just a freak at training.

"I'd love nothing more than for him to get a game and he's probably not far off it. I'm looking forward to when he gets the opportunity because he'll be exciting."

Pickett kicked four goals last weekend for the GIANTS' NEAFL team, for a season tally of 23. In one game recently he even laid 11 tackles. His running has picked up since the start of the season, and his GPS figures reflect a lift in his attitude. He has enjoyed his season of development out of the spotlight, but is desperate for next year to taste more of the big time.

"I'll be a lot more experienced and a lot fitter by then," he said. "I need to have a big pre-season and get as fit as I can, put myself in good stead and run amok."