You take two steps forward, one step back; it’s a familiar phrase and one that could easily be the theme of Robbie Tarrant’s career so far.

The 26-year-old has endured more injuries and setbacks than most with four shoulder reconstructions, a broken thumb and most recently, a stress reaction in his leg keeping him off the park.

RELATED: Robbie Tarrant's player profile

While Tarrant’s eight seasons in the system have been anything but smooth, you won’t find him dwelling on it.

“It’s always been about how quickly I can pick myself up and move on,” Tarrant told NMFC.com.au.

“Out on the field, when a goal has been kicked on me, I can’t stew on it. I’ve got to be ready to compete at the very next contest.”

Tarrant will run out for just his 50th game on Saturday night and the following week Scott Thompson, who was drafted in the same year (2007), will play game 150.

“There’s a difference of one hundred games and he’s probably played more VFL games than me,” Tarrant said laughing.

“It hasn’t been the easiest run for me obviously but I always say, ‘It is what it is’. There are still a lot of positives and I think you can get too caught up in the negatives. I’m in the AFL system, I enjoy a great lifestyle and I’m doing something I love. I’m actually lucky if anything.

“I don’t really want to acknowledge it (50 games) to be honest. I’m not that big on all the publicity that goes with being a footballer. I’d rather be low-key, do what I’ve got to do and just play.”

Although Tarrant isn’t keen to mark the occasion, there’s no doubting its significance. A year ago he went in for surgery to address continuing problems being caused by a small section of bone in his tibia that wouldn’t heal, despite an exhaustive rehabilitation program that spanned two seasons.

“I really struggled to pull up from games. It was quite sore for a few days. It was an injury that we initially thought would put me out for three weeks and it plagued me for two years,” Tarrant explained.

“There was nothing else we could have done. It was a rare occurrence in terms of the position in the leg it was affecting. Nothing was showing up on the scans and it was pretty frustrating there for a while.”

Tarrant could have been excused for throwing in the towel, but instead he emerged bigger and stronger.

“I’ve been confident with all my injuries and always felt that I would get back from it and play at the highest level. In saying that, it did take a toll on me.”

When Tarrant eventually made it back, he was thrown another curve ball. The recruitment of Jarrad Waite into an already tall forward line-up which included Drew Petrie, Ben Brown, Majak Daw and Aaron Black meant to the squeeze was on for spots in front of the big sticks.

At the other end of the ground however, the Roos were starting to look a little light-on. Nathan Grima (back) and Lachie Hansen (hip) were under serious injury clouds and an inexperienced Joel Tippett was doing his best to beef up in order to combat the big gorilla forwards of the competition.

As a result, the decision was made to switch Tarrant back to defence; a position he’d played in his debut year back in 2010.

“I was drafted as a forward in 2007 but played my first two games for North as a defender. When Drew Petrie broke his feet, they moved me forward and I played that position for four seasons, including that one game I played last year in Adelaide,” Tarrant said.

Despite the role reversal, Tarrant was left out of North’s Round 1 side this season with Tippett given the nod, but he didn’t have to wait too long to get his opportunity. He was brought in to play the very next week.

“You don’t have an option other than to go back to the VFL and play well. You always know that through an unfortunate injury to another player, team balance or a form slump, you’ll get your chance. You just have to take it when it comes.”

Tarrant’s done exactly that and has conceded the fewest goals for North so far this season, with just 12 against his name compared with Thompson (27) and Michael Firrito (23). He’s played on the likes of Justin Westhoff, Tom Hawkins, Travis Cloke and Jarryd Roughead but credits his effectiveness to a team-based approach.

RELATED: Mid-season review: Defenders

“I’m getting more comfortable but I know I’ve still got a lot of work to do to become a good, consistent defender. I think there’s more pressure as a backman because you only have to make one mistake and it can result in a goal to the other team. You can do everything right as a defender and still get beaten.

“It doesn’t get any easier each week and each team’s big forward is different and has his strengths. I’ve been trying to get as much information about them off Turbo (Thompson), Spud (Firrito) and Narny (Nathan Grima), blokes who have played on them before.

“Josh Drummond (assistant coach) has also been great formulating plans on how I should play on particular forwards and I just try and execute that as best as I can.”

Being injury free has also given Tarrant some much needed confidence in his body and has enabled him to prepare better for the rigours of AFL.

“I’ve been able to run three times a week for the last eight or nine months, which is by far the biggest block of running I’ve been able to do throughout my whole career,” he said.

“When you do a whole pre-season, it also helps with your ability to recover from games that much more. You don’t pull up as sore.”

With his cursed past well and truly behind him, Tarrant is a good chance of breaking his previous best consecutive games record of 12, but he’s not counting.

“I’m just happy that I’m out there playing, it’s a lot better than being in the gym.”