Robbie Tarrant’s patience and determination rewarded with breakout season

IT’S ironic, Robbie Tarrant’s breakout season was a year that North Melbourne’s injury list reached almost historic levels as he dominated in defence.

Robbie Tarrant has been dominant in defence for North Melbourne.

THERE is an strange twist to Robbie Tarrant’s most complete season so far.

In a year in which North Melbourne injury list reached almost record levels in terms of what the club has experienced in recent seasons, the man who was once unfairly tagged as unlucky ‘crock’ has been the rock that the club has so desperately needed.

Tarrant, 27, may have been the stiffest player to miss All-Australian selection last night - and his teammates and coach Brad Scott would attest to that - but he has produced an outstanding year, keeping the likes of Buddy Franklin and Jack Gunston (twice) goalless.

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His form is a fitting reward for patience and loyalty - on the part of the club and the player himself - and Tarrant quite rightly is considered one of the favourites for the club’s Syd Barker Medal, even if his nomination among the initial squad of 40 All Australian players saw him just miss out on the side.

Tarrant could manage only 38 games spread out sporadically across his first five injury-interrupted seasons. Everyone knew he was capable of achieving what he did this season, and to an extent last year, but the question mark was whether his body would allow it to happen.

Four shoulder reconstructions, two lots of stress fractures, and other ailments intervened. Then in the pre-season leading into last year, his coach tried to reinvent the one-time forward into a defender. Tarrant was overlooked for the first two games of 2015 in preference for Joel Tippett, but hasn’t looked back since.

Robbie Tarrant spoils Jack Gunston. Picture: Colleen Petch

Tarrant has played 44 of the club’s last 47 games, including every match this season. In that time, he has put himself alongside the likes of Richmond’s Alex Rance as one of the AFL’s best and most thrifty defenders.

But don’t expect Robbie to talk up his form, or take anything for granted. He’s a quietly-spoken, modest and respectful footballer, and besides, he has got an appointment on Saturday week with the might of Adelaide’s forwards.

In the past 11 games, he has had only nine goals kicked on him.

“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.”

Pressed further on about the reviews and accolades he has received this season, Tarrant stressed that he doesn’t listen to the external talk. “I am just focused on trying to help out our team and setting up our structures as best as I can,” he said. “I don’t look at the outside stuff.”

Tarrant has only had 28 goals directly kicked on him this season, according to Champion Data. Better still, as his team has floundered since their nine-zip start of the season, the hard-running, intercept defender has not missed a beat.

Robbie Tarrant boots North Melbourne out of defence.

In the past 11 games, he has had only nine goals kicked on him. That stat says plenty, when you consider his team lost nine of those 11 games.

His brother, Chris, the former Magpie and Docker who was also a forward-turned defender, said yesterday that Robbie’s 2016 form is a product of the confidence he got from playing 22 games last year, learning the nuances in defence.

“I understand that this year has been his 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,” said Chris, who is more than eight years his senior.

“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.”

Chris said Robbie’s decision to turn his back on a lucrative offer from Brisbane last year and sign a four-year deal with the Kangaroos shows just what the club means to him. “They have been loyal to him and he has been loyal back,” he said.

Robbie Tarrant tries to stop Chad Wingard. Picture: Michael Klein

Robbie admitted there was a time not many seasons ago that he was briefly worried he was not going to get a clean shot at an AFL career, due to the injuries that stood in his path.

“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 said. “But I was lucky enough to have some surgery on it and since then I have had a pretty good run.”

He has now played 83 games, and credits North Melbourne’s off-field team as being critical to his sustained run of appearances.

“I am very thankful for the physios and for the sports science guys who have got me in pretty good shape,” he said. “It does make it tough when you are chasing your tail with injuries.”

And, given the Crows’ powerful attack, no Kangaroo looms as more important as Tarrant heading into next week’s elimination final.

TIGHT TAZ

- Robbie Tarrant has conceded just 9 goal in his past 11 games

- Before that, the key back gave up 19 goals from the first 11 matches

Main 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: CHAMPION DATA

Originally published as Robbie Tarrant’s patience and determination rewarded with breakout season