Chris Tarrant (footballer)

Chris Tarrant (born 18 September 1980) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club and the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He announced at the end of the 2010 AFL season that he would return to Melbourne for personal reasons and would not extend his contract with Fremantle for the 2011 season.[1] He returned to the Collingwood Football Club via a trade. He made his name as a key forward, but upon his move to Fremantle in 2007, Tarrant found a new position in the backline. Tarrant was noted for his spectacular high marking, athleticism and pace on a lead.

Chris Tarrant
Tarrant playing for Collingwood in 2006
Personal information
Full name Chris Tarrant
Nickname(s) Taz, Tazza
Date of birth (1980-09-18) 18 September 1980
Place of birth Mildura, Victoria
Original team(s) Bendigo Pioneers (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 8, 1997 National Draft, Collingwood
Height 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 94 kg (207 lb)
Position(s) Defender / Forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1998–2006; 2011–2012 Collingwood 196 (307)
2007–2010 Fremantle 072 0(60)
Total 268 (367)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2012.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Born in Derrimut, Victoria, Tarrant originally played for South Mildura in the Sunraysia Football League and moved to Bendigo in 1996 on an AFL scholarship.

In his younger days he was a top basketballer, making the Victorian State under-15 squad before concentrating on football.

His younger brother Robbie Tarrant plays for the North Melbourne Football Club.

AFL career

Collingwood

His 2003 season was his best for Collingwood as he was an All-Australian forward, playing all 22 games plus three finals. He kicked 54 goals and topped Collingwood's goalkicking, and won the 2003 Mark of the Year for his high-flying mark against Geelong.

Despite being hampered by knee problems in 2005, Tarrant kicked 36 goals in 17 games be Collingwood's lead goalkicker for a fifth-straight season.

In November 2005, Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse stated that Tarrant had gained strength in his legs after a successful recovery from post-season knee surgery. A big 2006 season was predicted from the enigmatic Tarrant, however this did not eventuate.

Honours bestowed upon Tarrant during his AFL career include All Australian selection in 2003, Second place in the Collingwood Best & Fairest award (Copeland Trophy) in 2003, Club Leading Goalkicker in 2001, 2002 (equal), 2003, 2004, 2005, and Mark Of The Year in 2003.

Fremantle
Chris Tarrant playing with Fremantle in 2009.

On 13 October 2006, the final day of trade week and after being linked with several clubs – primarily the two Western Australian clubs West Coast and Fremantle, Tarrant was traded to the Fremantle Football Club in a deal that saw Paul Medhurst and Draft Selection #8 head to Collingwood.[2]

On being traded to the Dockers, Tarrant said that Subiaco Oval, both Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles' home ground, would suit his style of play. He also thought that playing alongside Matthew Pavlich, a similar styled player, would be difficult for opposition defences. He also looked forward to a chance to play in the same team as his former schoolmate Dean Solomon, who was also traded to Fremantle.[3]

Tarrant was given the number 17 guernsey to wear. He was initially used to work up on the ground and had racked up multiple possessions playing in that role. He has also played as a second string forward in a forward line that depended much on Pavlich.

In 2009, coach Harvey moved Tarrant into defence following some poor form up forward. The move was successful, with Tarrant putting together a string of noteworthy defensive performances on opposition forwards as well as providing some penetrating rebound attack.

Return to Collingwood

On 11 October 2010, the final day of the trade period, Tarrant returned to Collingwood in a trade that saw him and pick 44 traded to Collingwood for picks 43 and 55. He was given the Number 2 guernsey and continued to play as a back and full-back as he had at Fremantle.

Tarrant announced his retirement on 21 August 2012, effective from the end of the 2012 season.[4][5]

Statistics
[6]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
AFL playing statistics
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1998 Collingwood 20113639226119110.30.53.52.05.51.71.00
1999 Collingwood 20131581078018760161.20.68.26.214.44.61.20
2000 Collingwood 2019281317282254121201.50.79.14.313.46.41.10
2001 Collingwood 2022532921444258139242.41.39.72.011.76.31.16
2002 Collingwood 202038311596822798291.91.68.03.411.44.91.54
2003 Collingwood 2025544430174375219382.21.812.03.015.08.81.512
2004 Collingwood 2014363014437181109172.62.110.32.612.97.81.23
2005 Collingwood 201736271334918293282.11.67.82.910.75.51.61
2006 Collingwood 2020363119584279151391.81.59.84.214.07.62.92
2007 Fremantle 1721332720388291134341.61.39.74.213.96.41.60
2008 Fremantle 201623141466821497331.40.99.14.313.46.12.10
2009 Fremantle 20223214213727987440.10.16.56.212.74.02.00
2010 Fremantle 201311776213939310.10.15.94.810.73.02.40
2011 Collingwood 2232110312022371260.10.04.55.29.73.11.11
2012 Collingwood 21265804012054240.50.46.73.310.04.52.00
Career 268 367 269 2215 1055 3270 1491 414 1.4 1.0 8.3 3.9 12.2 5.6 1.5 29

Post-AFL career

Since his retirement, Tarrant has become a "fly-in" footballer, signing to play games with clubs around Australia to boost popularity for the clubs. Tarrant signed on to play one game for the North Launceston Bombers in 2013, kicking seven goals against eventual premiers South Launceston.[7]

Tarrant also made one appearance for the Glenorchy Football Club in 2013 in the TSL.[8]

Tarrant returned to the Bombers in 2014, signing a minimum five game contract, with the option of continuing for finals. He appeared in the qualifying final, kicking five goals to help the Bombers advance to the second semi. During the second semi final, he was reported for striking a Clarence player, but received a reprimand due to his good record.[9] With the Bombers causing an upset, Tarrant will line up in the Tasmanian State League Grand Final.

Off-field incidents

In August 2006, Tarrant and Collingwood teammate Ben Johnson were involved in a fight at a Port Melbourne nightclub. Johnson was charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault and accepted responsibility for the incident.[10] Tarrant was not charged, but was fined $5,000 by Collingwood for breaking the players code of conduct.[11]

In June 2007, Tarrant was accused of showing his backside to a female patron of a Darwin nightclub and punching the Federal ALP candidate for Division of Solomon, Damian Hale, after he confronted Tarrant about his behaviour. After the Fremantle Football Club took the unusual step of referring the matter to the AFL to investigate, they fined Tarrant $5,000 and suspended him for three matches, with two matches suspended until the end of 2008.[12]

Career highlights

References
  1. Chris Tarrant to return to Melbourne
  2. Davini, D;Fremantle secures Tarrant & Solomon Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine; 13 October 2006;Retrieved on 29 June 2007
  3. Duffield, M; Move west new horizon for Tarrant; 24 March 2007; Retrieved on 29 June 2007
  4. Rielly, Stephen (21 August 2012). "Chris Tarrant to retire". Collingwoodfc.com.au. BigPond.
  5. "Taz for the memories: Tarrant to hang up the boots". The Age. 21 August 2012.
  6. "Chris Tarrant stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  7. http://www.examiner.com.au/story/2209554/tarrant-in-bombers-deal/
  8. http://websites.sportstg.com/club_info.cgi?c=1-110-9677-203202-16991695&sID=167928&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=23518686
  9. http://www.examiner.com.au/story/2545768/tarrant-in-the-clear/?cs=12
  10. Court orders Johnson to donate to charity; 19 December 2006;Retrieved on 29 June 2007
  11. Kate Uebergang; Ben Johnson to avoid court; 21 November 2006; Retrieved on 29 June 2007
  12. AAP;Tarrant banned, fined by Dockers; 22 June 2007; Retrieved on 29 June 2007
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