It’s fair to say Robbie Tarrant has taken the long road to 150 games. 

Almost 13 years after being taken by North Melbourne with a first round selection in 2007, the 31-year-old will notch up a milestone that many thought wouldn’t be possible during his early years at Arden Street. 

“He came in as an elite talent, and everyone knew his brother (former Magpie and Docker, Chris), so there was a bit of hype about him,” former teammate Michael Firrito told North Media.

“You could tell straight away that he had a good head on his shoulders and he knew where he wanted to go.

“But he had some really rotten luck early on with injuries.”

Multiple shoulder reconstructions, as well as hip and leg injuries saw Tarrant’s debut delayed until 2010, and further injuries saw him play just 38 games in his first seven years in the AFL system.

“He’s got a steel rod in his leg, and I don’t think anyone else in the AFL would have that, and it’s pretty uncommon worldwide,” Firrito said.

“He could probably have been a 250-gamer by now, if his luck had been different.”

North’s faith and Tarrant’s persistence and continued commitment ultimately paid off.

“It’s obviously tough physically, but don’t discount how tough it is mentally to be in rehab for such long stretches, which he suffered at a young age,” Firrito said.

“To fight back the way he did says a lot about him.”

“He went through a lot early on, but he never gave, being the type of bloke he is,” fellow defender Scott Thompson added.

“Now he’s got that momentum up, hopefully he can keep going and hit 250 (games).”

Having played 275, and 241 games respectively in the royal blue and white stripes, Firrito and Thompson are North Melbourne through and through.

That trait well and truly one Tarrant holds dear.  

“When I look back at my favourite teammates like (Glenn) Archer, Boomer (Brent Harvey), Drew (Petrie), Brady Rawlings, Scott Thompson … he’s (Tarrant) right in that calibre,” Firrito said.

“He’s a guy that lifts people around him. You hear it said a lot, but he’s a guy people love to play with because he gives you so much confidence when he’s next to you.”

“His professionalism is right up there. He’d never miss anything, or take any shortcuts,” Thompson added.

“That shows on the field. He’ll do anything for his teammates, and you’d want him on your team.  He’d be one of the first you’d pick to play with, and you’d always know he has your back.

“He drives the standards on game day and at training, and everyone looks up to him. If someone is mucking around at the wrong time, he’ll whip them into line.  But he’ll definitely have fun when there’s fun to be had.”

Having started his career as a forward, Tarrant has developed into one of the Roos’ most important players and leaders.

“He played a fair bit of footy forward, then he got thrown back, but he’s always been such a tremendous athlete, he could go anywhere and make an impact,” Firrito said.

“For me, he’s probably now our most important player for what he brings to the team, and the leader he’s become.

“He knows his opponents and his game as well as anyone, or the coaches. He’s like an assistant coach out on the ground, and I think his value to the football club is massive with the way things are going currently.

“I’m really proud to have him as a North Melbourne leader, and a close friend.”

Thompson and Tarrant formed a key partnership for the Roos in the latter half of the decade.

“We knew each other’s game really well, so the relationship worked,” Thompson said.

“If one of us was struggling we’d switch players, and I was having a bad day he’d give me a little kick, and he was good like that.

“He’s never been the guy that gets the second or third forward.  He takes the best every week, and he never lets you down.”

Internally at North and amongst fans, Tarrant is regarded as one of the league’s best defenders, and two of his great mates think it’s only a matter of time before that recognition grows.

“He’s definitely underrated in my eyes. Hopefully one day he gets the recognition he deserves,” Thompson said.

“He’s been stiff not to be All-Australian, and hopefully that changes in the future,” Firrito added.