North Melbourne defender Robbie Tarrant to undergo shoulder surgery after injury during intraclub match
North Melbourne has been dealt a shocking preseason blow with vice-captain Robbie Tarrant to have surgery tomorrow, after suffering injury during an intraclub match at Arden St today.
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North Melbourne has been dealt a shocking preseason blow with vice-captain Robbie Tarrant to have shoulder surgery.
Tarrant, 29, injured his right AC joint in an innocuous tackle in today’s intraclub match at Arden Street, leaving the ground midway through the final quarter indicating some discomfort.
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Scans later revealed he would require surgery on Thursday and will miss at least four weeks of training, the JLT Community Series and AFLX, but the club is confident he will be ready for Round 1.
“Robbie was propelled forward in a tackle and landed awkwardly on his right shoulder,” Kangaroos football boss Cam Joyce said.
“He was immediately assessed by our medical team and sent to a specialist for a second opinion, and possible surgical intervention.”
Tarrant had been battling a calf injury and had only recently rejoined the main training group, manning key forward Ben Brown in a high-intensity hitout.
“Fortunately Robbie was able to complete a decent block of work fitness-wise which will hold him in good stead,” Joyce said.
“All we can do now is ensure that he’s fit and firing in time for the start of the season.
“He’ll be operated on (today) and he’ll waste not time with his recovery and rehabilitation.”
The Roos will already be missing key defender Scott Thompson and tall Majak Daw to suspension and injury in Round 1, making Tarrant’s recovery timeline vital.
The injury was indicative of the competitiveness during the City v Country match, which has impressed recruit Jared Polec.
Polec represented the victorious City team, finding plenty of the ball.
And while he said there were many similarities between North Melbourne and his former home Port Adelaide, there had been one standout.
“All 18 teams play a similar role, but over here just how hard they go at it (has been the biggest difference),” he said.
Who is this fresh-faced @NMFC recruit taking part in match simulation at Arden St today? 🤔
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) February 13, 2019
Any thoughts @Boomer_29? pic.twitter.com/uH3AU9taMx
North skipper Jack Ziebell patrolling & coaching from sidelines at today’s @NMFCOfficial intraclub. One who’s impressing? Well, he’s 40 & holds the games record. Full wrap on @superfooty & in tomorrow’s @heraldsunsport. pic.twitter.com/0Idy3be9wS
— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) February 13, 2019
“The pre-season has been one of the hardest I’ve done for a while and it’s fantastic. It’s a good culture, everyone’s really close and I’m really looking forward to it.
“Just the competitiveness (has been the hardest part) early on. There was no holding back. You’ve got some big blokes on the inside, so it was really good.”
Polec, 26, requested a trade to North Melbourne at the end of last season and said he anticipated playing a similar role on the wing as he did for the Power.
“It’s been a fresh start and learning a new role and learning how the guys go about it over here has been fantastic,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to getting into the season.”
Skipper Jack Ziebell, star midfielder Shaun Higgins, Jasper Pittard, Paul Ahern, Ben Jacobs, Taylor Garner and ruck Todd Goldstein all sat out the clash due to varying load managements and commitments.
A familiar face went as hard as any Kangaroo in the intra-club, with retired club great and VFL/AFL games record holder Brent Harvey stepping in and proving that his year out of the game - and a few extra birthdays, now 40 — haven’t stopped him.
“He’s good running around — he’s a really quick bloke,” Polec said.
Some of the best snaps from the first half... pic.twitter.com/L7qzgazecq
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) February 13, 2019
Kangaroos recruit Aaron Hall gets an early touch in North Melbourne's intra-club hit-out. 🎥 @laurenheraldsun at Arden Street. pic.twitter.com/oa02BcPwAw
— Herald Sun Sport (@heraldsunsport) February 12, 2019
“He’s still got the skill to play. He’s good to have out there, good to learn off for the young boys as well.”
Assistant coach Brendan Whitecross also pulled on the boots for the hitout, with former Sun Aaron Hall impressing with dash and flair.
The Roos’ first draft pick Tarryn Thomas also provided plenty of excitement, booting a classy checkside snap goal, while Nick Larkey had to be helped from the ground after he was felled in a marking contest.
“No, there wasn’t (any holding back) … there was a few big contests,” Polec said.
“It was a good hitout, which is what we need coming into JLT.
“It’s been a solid pre-season and just looking forward to getting into it now.”
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Originally published as North Melbourne defender Robbie Tarrant to undergo shoulder surgery after injury during intraclub match
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