When Shane Yarran was drafted by Fremantle ahead of the 2016 AFL season, he was celebrated as a positive redemption story after serving six years in jail for burglary.
But the hot-headed forward was unable to keep out of trouble and, over the next two years, was charged with offences ranging from beating his girlfriend to driving away from police at 125km/h.
After years of run-ins with the law, Yarran was found dead at his Perth home in a suspected suicide on Friday.
Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look back at his troubles times and brushes with the law, which forced him to retire from the Dockers after just six games – sending him on downward spiral.
Troubled: Over two years Yarran was charged with offences ranging from beating his girlfriend to driving away from police at 125km/h
In 2017 Yarran (pictured) was jailed for six months after a high-speed chase. He pleaded guilty to charges including reckless driving to escape pursuit and driving without a valid licence
In July 2016, Yarran pleaded guilty to one count of disorderly behaviour in public, and one count of failing to obey a move-on notice after swearing outside a pub on a night out in Perth.
He was fined $800 by the Perth Magistrate’s Court.
In November 2016, he was charged with aggravated assault following a family dispute. He was later acquitted after his partner failed to turn up to court to give evidence but resigned from the Dockers over the issue.
In May 2017, Yarran was arrested for reckless driving after he jumped out of a moving car following a 125km/h chase in a 60km/h zone in Gosnells.
He fled on foot but was found hiding in bushes by police dogs.
The forward pleaded guilty to reckless driving to escape pursuit and driving without a valid licence and served six months in jail.
At the end of February 2018, Yarran was taken to hospital for a mental health assessment after a motorist reported him standing in the road in his underpants, behaving erratically and interfering with traffic.
Yarran, who leaves a young daughter (pictured together), joined Fremantle Dockers in 2015 but retired after just six games as he faced two assault charges
It is believed Yarran (pictured with his daughter) took his own life. Police are not treating the death as suspicious and are preparing a report for the coroner
On 2 March, Yarran was convicted in his absence of two counts of trespass after walking on the roof of a house in Armadale and jumping a fence into someone’s garden on a neighboring street in December.
On 14 March, Yarran was acquitted of an unlawful wounding charge.
He was meant to face trial accused of stabbing a man with a broken bottle at a pub in July 2015 but was cleared after prosecutors decided not to offer any evidence, saying there was ‘no reasonable prospect of a conviction’.
On April 6, Yarran threw a cameraman to the ground after walking from court where he faced an aggravated burglary charge.
Footage captured at the Armadale Magistrates Court shows two journalists walking either side of the former Fremantle Dockers forward before he lashed out.
On April 20 he ended his life at his home.
Shane Yarran (centre) of the Dockers celebrates a goal during the round 18 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Fremantle Dockers
Yarran was found dead aged 28. His body was discovered at home in Seville Grove, Perth at 4pm on Friday.
Yarran, who leaves a young daughter, joined Fremantle Dockers in 2015 but retired after just six games as he faced two assault charges.
He was recently training with former club Subiaco and playing in the WAFL for Gosnells in a bid to reignite his career.
Devastated fans paid tribute to the ‘loving father’ on Twitter.
Tragic: Troubled AFL star Shane Yarran (pictured playing for the Fremantle Dockers) has been found dead at home aged 28
Shane Yarran (centre) of the Dockers celebrates a goal during the round 18 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Fremantle Dockers
Australian netballer Nat Medhurst wrote: ‘Such incredibly sad news hearing of the death of Shane Yarran. Thoughts with his loved ones, friends and those at the fredockers’.
Perth TV presenter Tim Gossage tweeted: ‘I only remember Shane Yarran as a determined young man focused on his family and football with Subiaco. Sad time for all and my thoughts with his family.’
Dockers assistant coach David Hale tweeted: ‘Terrible news about Shane Yarran. Football aside, the saddest thing is that he was a young father. RIP’.
In a statement, Yarran’s WAFL club Subiaco said: ‘Shane was a popular teammate and club figure of the Subiaco Football Club in his time spent with our club.
‘He had built strong relationships with Subiaco’s players, coaches and support staff through his involvement with the Subiaco Football Club.’
- For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14
Yarran (centre) was at the Armadale Magistrates Court facing an aggravated burglary charge when he assaulted a cameraman earlier this month
Outpouring of grief: Devastated fans paid tribute to the ‘loving father’ on Twitter
Yarran’s body was discovered at his house in Seville Grove, Perth at 4pm on Friday. He is pictured playing for the Fremantle Dockers