North Melbourne Kangaroos veteran Robbie Tarrant will be wearing yellow and black next year, after informing the club of his intentions to join Richmond for the 2022 season.
The 32-year old key defender, who has 174 matches at Arden Street since making his debut in 2010, will head to Punt Road as an unrestricted free agent, meaning the Kangaroos will not receive any compensation for his departure.
Tarrant is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Tigers, where he will fill the void left by the retiring David Astbury in the reigning premiers’ backline.
The 2016 Kangaroos best and fairest winner is regarded as one of the unluckiest players to have missed an All Australian gong in recent years, having several times been overlooked for a coveted blazer.
The news softens the blow of the impending departure of Richmond talls Mabior Chol and Callum Coleman-Jones, the latter heading to the Kangaroos on a reported four-year deal.
Before missing the early rounds of 2021 after undergoing kidney surgery, Tarrant was a dependable figure in the Roos’ defence, missing just four games after becoming a regular in the side in early 2015.
Kangaroos coach David Noble had previously been confident Tarrant would re-sign with the club, telling reporters in July: “I couldn’t see Robbie playing for another club, let’s be honest.”
MORE TO COME
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Actually hearing They are talking to the Suns for pick 3, so maybe they might be up to something!
Philby
Guest
Yes perhaps - but could really set up the next generation with an absolute gun. ....and complement the current generation for a huge tilt at a flag in 2022. There are no guarantees with players picked up further down - many top 20 picks just don't make it. Who dares....wins.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
English spelling is C which we adopted, comes from French word défendre. But we know what you mean. I’m not picky as I have plenty of typos, spell errors and auto correct blunders myself. But !hit yea I agree, as Pablo alluded to Balta, May have the chance to spend some time forward, where I think he would be a handful.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
In my eyes Balta is too good to play down back. Was it the Prelim against Geelong where they put him in a ruck/ forward role and looked a handful, really changed the whole structure of the game. To me it’s a bit like having Wayne Carey down back. Maybe with Tarrant they can give him more time up forward.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
All eggs in one basket. They do need a couple of talls and couple of small so they will look to add depth for two years time.
Philby
Guest
I know this might sound mad, but re your 'young midfielder' how about giving picks 7, 15, 26 and 28 for pick 1 and getting Horne Francis? I think it's win-win.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Yep. We should get that and more. Much more. A lot to look forward to. What do you think about Balta being used up forward and pinch hitting in the middle? There's a lot to like about this fella moving ahead. Could be anything.
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Only those that follow the Tigers understand the reasoning. The oldest backman we have is Grimes who turned 30 in July. The average age of the 10 guys who played down back this year would be around 25. Good pickup with experience he can pass on. Now we need a young midfielder and tall forward in the draft.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I see the positives Thom but the Pies already have an unbalanced list with raw youth and aging veterans and not much in between so to trade out one of their elite mid 20 age players? Can’t see it happening. Wright and McRae will back themselves to sell the Pies future to De Goey and Moore next season.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
My point in speculating these trades - I wrote a whole article about it - is that Moore and De Goey are "pre-agents". Both can walk to the club of their choice provided they find a suitor offering enough money to outbid Collingwood. However, should Collingwood trade one of them (I don't think they'd trade both) this year they would get better value than waiting for a compo pick next year. De Goey had his head turned by North's massive offer previously, but Collingwood's premiership window was wide open so he stayed. I don't think Moore will go anywhere, but a deal with that kind of cache would have to be appealing. North could make their good backline great. Or their forward line. Think about the implications for Collingwood. They steal into pick 1 and bid on Sam Darcy, Dogs match and so the Pies select Jason Horne-Francis. Then the Giants place their bid on Nick Daicos, which the Pies match. It's an elegant solution to a complex Collingwood problem.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Moore wouldn’t go to a Nth or GC. Maybe a Richmond, Sydney or Bulldogs but he’s signed for 2022 and I doubt is going anywhere.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Getting the best player in the game and one of the all time greats was bad list management? Please explain why we deserved a trade ban, would love to hear it.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Not sure Sydney recruited too many 32 year olds.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Think so but c is the Australian spelling, s in the US
Kick to Kick
Roar Rookie
Complete nonsense. The Cola was a living allowance overseen and administered by the AFL to every Sydney player ( including the Giants) as an extra 10% to cover extra housing and living costs in Sydney compared with other states. It was technically impossible to stockpile it to buy players and the AFL investigation found that never happened. Even if Cola was to be abolished as it was after idiotic complaints by the likes of Eddie McGuire, the trade ban was not about any misuse of Cola but a bizarre and punitive way of phasing it out.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
The issue with Darcy Moore is you need a big gorilla like a Roughead to be able to take the oppositions best forward mix
Ace
Roar Rookie
Walker? But they will need to boost their stocks down back
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
The commentary is really short sighted. Tarrant fills an immediate need and won't cost us anything in terms of players/draft picks. With 6 decent picks available to us we are looking good to add more quality depth, while also planning for the future, that we've lost in the last few years. I agree, great planning. Hope the rest of it goes just as sweetly.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Agree with you about Mansell. With a more settled back 6/7 he should improve even further. Punched above his weight division more often than not this year due to injuries in our back half. I look forward to more run and carry from him next year.
Philby
Guest
Yes