Collingwood hopes to end Tarrant’s career with a premiership

 

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By ChrisCantatore, 22 Aug 2012 ChrisCantatore is a Roar Rookie

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 AFL, Chris Tarrant, Collingwood Magpies

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With today’s announcement that Collingwood defender Chris Tarrant will retire at the end of the season, the Magpies will be looking to make sure the sun sets on his career with a premiership medallion.

Tarrant has played 263 games for Collingwood and Fremantle in a career than has spanned 15 seasons.

He was taken by the Magpies with the eighth pick in the 1997 AFL draft.

After a few off-field incidents and inconsistent form he was traded to Fremantle for the 2007 season. Tarrant then signed a four-year contract with the harbour club.

The change of scenery was welcomed by Tarrant who was excited about the opportunity to play along-side his close friend, Essendon premiership player Dean Solomon who had also been picked up by Fremantle.

It was during his time at the Dockers that the former Collingwood leading goal kicker was turned into a key defender, reigniting his career and increasing his stock around the competition once again.

Citing a desire to return back to Melbourne for family reasons at the end of Fremantle’s 2010 season, he advised the club he would not be extending his contract with the Dockers.

Tarrant was linked to Hawthorn before declaring he wanted to return to Collingwood. It had been reported that Tarrant said he would retire if he wasn’t sent back to Collingwood.

Fremantle traded the 2003 All Australian along with the 44th pick in the 2010 draft back to his original club for picks 43 and 55.

In the original trade, Fremantle gave up pick number eight of the 2006 draft along with sharpshooter Paul Medhurst to acquire Tarrant.

In his return to the Magpies, he replaced Simon Prestigiacomo as the clubs number one full back. He had a consistent year culminating in the 2011 grand final loss to Geelong.

Throughout 2012 Tarrant has been plagued by injury, managing only seven games this season.

The Magpies currently sit in fourth spot on the ladder and have games against West Coast in Perth this Saturday and a blockbuster with Essendon on the last Saturday night of the home and away season before the finals.

Collingwood will be hoping to send the retiring Magpie out with the premiership he has desperately craved.

Tarrant is the only current Collingwood player to have played in the sides 2002, 2003 and 2011 losing grand finals without being a part of the 2010 triumph.

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