Former Magpie and Docker Chris Tarrant says his brother Robbie is reaping the benefits of getting his body right over the past two seasons.
Shoulder and leg injures hampered the younger Tarrant through much of his early AFL career, but getting on the field with regularity has seen him become one of the AFL’s best key-defenders.
“I understand that this year has been his (Robbie’s) breakout season, but I reckon it all started last year when he got his body right and he was playing on all the big names,” Chris told The Herald Sun’s Glenn McFarlane.
“When you know a player is full of confidence is when they are intercepting marks and going for it as a defender. He has certainly been doing that and reading the ball so well, stopping his man, getting plenty of his own footy and taking the ball out of the backline.
“You don’t get too many defenders who can do that.”
Tarrant narrowly missed selection in the final All-Australian team on Thursday night, but his recognition in the squad of 40 illustrates his remarkable form in 2016.
Nevertheless, his modesty comes to the fore when discussing the praise he’s been receiving.
“It’s been my most consistent year, both from sort of playing games and probably form-wise,” Tarrant said.
“I think I had a year to adjust to playing in defence (last year), and just to get another full preseason sets you up to potentially have a good year.
“But we think we have got a big three or four weeks ahead of us now, and we are really looking forward to that.
“I am just focused on trying to help out our team and setting up our structures as best as I can. I don’t look at the outside stuff.”
Tarrant’s record stacks up against the league’s powerhouse forwards stacks up against the very best.
He’s conceded just nine goals in his past 11 games, and 28 across the season; particularly impressive when you consider North has won just two of its past 11 matches.
But the number 25 is the first to realise it didn’t come easy.
If not for his persistence, and the club’s faith in his ability, Tarrant’s career could well have been over.
“I think when I got a second lot of stress fractures with the leg I thought i was going to be in a bit of trouble,” he added.
“But I was lucky enough to have some surgery on it and since then I have had a pretty good run.
“I am very thankful for the physios and for the sports science guys who have got me in pretty good shape. It does make it tough when you are chasing your tail with injuries.”
Tarrant's opponents since Round 12
Round 23 v Jeremy Cameron (GWS) 1 goal, Cameron’s 2016 average is 2.7
Round 22 v Lance Franklin (Syd) 0 goals, Franklin’s 2016 average is 3.4
Round 21 v Jack Gunston (Haw) 1 goal, Gunston’s 2016 average is 2.2
Round 20 v Tom Boyd (WB) 0 goals, Boyd’s 2016 average is 0.9
Round 19 v Nick Riewoldt/Blake Acres (StK) 1 goal, Riewoldt’s 2016 average is 2.0, Acres 0.4
Round 18 v Travis Cloke (Coll) 0 goals, Cloke’s 2016 average is 1.3
Round 17 v Charlie Dixon (PTA) 0 goals, Dixon’s 2016 average is 1.7
Round 16 v Josh Kennedy (WCE) 4 goals, Kennedy’s 2016 average is 3.6
Round 14 v Taylor Walker (Adel) 1 goal, Walker’s 2016 average is 2.0
Round 13 v Jack Gunston/James Sicily (Haw) 1 goal, Gunston’s 2016 average is 2.2, Sicily 1.4
Round 12 v Rhys Stanley (Geel) 0 goals, Stanley’s 2016 average is 0.8
Statistics courtesy of Champion Data
