There was a time when I genuinely believed Chris Tarrant was going to breakout and establish himself as a bona fide superstar. Every pre-season from 2001 to 2005 I told myself this was going to be the year that Chris shows the world what he's got. People would say that I was colourblind, seeing only in my beloved black and white, but I had absolute faith that someone with Chris Tarrant's sheer natural talent was destined to be something special. Tarrant possessed unmatched speed on a lead, rarely dropped a mark, had terrific skills around the ground with his pinpoint short kicking and well waited handballs, and had a knack for the sensational. In his Collingwood years Tarrant was the best snap shot for goal in the league, and arguably the best at spectacular marking as well. Despite all this he was constantly held back by one element of his game - his kicking for goal.
It's difficult to truly express the awkward sensation of watching Chris Tarrant line up a set shot for goal. In the early years (98-02) I just convinced myself that he was a professional athlete and such an obvious weakness would be addressed with endless practice. But it wasn't. In 2003, the prime year of Tarrant's career, I simply couldn't watch, it was too painful. I'd tilt my head and watch out of the corner of my eye. When he missed (most of the time) I'd sulk and feel sick, when he goaled I'd take a deep breath and grin. In 2004-06 I took a new approach. Every time Tarrant marked within 40 metres of goal on a relatively easy angle I'd simply mentally skip ahead to the inevitable kick-in that would follow his miss, and when he'd kick a goal it'd be a pleasant surprise.
The evolution of Tarrant in front of goal parallels his career in general. In the early days he was a useful player but he didn't have great expectations, and didn't have to deal with the copious amounts of pressure he'd have to later on. Lack of pressure led to calmness and confidence in front of goal, in his first two full years of AFL footy (00-01) he kicked an efficient 81.42 in front of goals. In 2002 and 2003 where he was treated and respected as a star, he struggled in front of goal (92.75) due to the immense pressure. After the injury plagued 04 and 05 seasons his willingness to sacrifice his body in contests disappeared, and courage was replaced with complacency. In 2006 he was a shadow of the player he was in 2003.
It always amazed me how someone with such great kicking skills around the ground (I considered Tarrant the premier passing key forward in the league) could be so abysmal in front of goal. Ultimately it comes down to a supreme lack of confidence. Tarrant can kick goals from 55m out and from the impossible angle easily, but 25m on a slight angle he'll miss more times than not. That solely comes down to mental weakness.
It's incredible how deflating a player Chris Tarrant is. For the defence to hold steady and the midfield to work tirelessly to provide opportunity for a forward, only to see the forward to miss time and time again. All that work down the drain, it's a terrible feeling. It's the Chris Tarrant feeling.
I for one was initially disappointed when I heard of the Tarrant trade to Fremantle. The return seemed adequate (Paul Medhurst and the #8 pick), but I was disappointed in Collingwood. It was a signal that they were giving up on Tarrant pure and simple. I thought Tarrant would blossom in the West, it was the perfect situation for him. He had escaped the intense demands of Collingwood fans, he was playing for a team in the media shadow of another, and he was lining up along Matthew Pavlich. But it wasn't to be.
Tarrant took the easy road once again, choosing to be comfortable in a secondary role instead of striving towards excellence. Tarrant had a disappointing 2007 kicking 33.27, failing to finish top ten in the b&f, and getting into off-field trouble. In his past three games he has averaged 6 disposals and hasn't kicked a goal, and is now facing a potential omission from the team.
It's remarkable how far Tarrant has fallen. It's a tragic study, to see one man's confidence be absolutely decimated over the course of a decade. It's been a gradual decline, and in the past two weeks Tarrant has finally hit rock bottom. The decline began in 2004, but it's taken too long for it to happen. Tarrant has never had to work for anything, he's always rested on the laurels of his talent. That's not enough anymore though. His refusal to work hard and run himself into the ground has caught up with him. No longer is he able to cruise and coast through games. I fully expect Tarrant to be dropped this week, and if he's not that says a lot about Fremantle Football Club. No team should expect mediocrity, but for ten years that's what Chris Tarrant has provided. At 27 Tarrant can still bounce back, but time is slipping from him.
My defining memory of Chris Tarrant came in the 2003 season against Geelong. I was there at the Telstra Dome the night he took the mark of the year and I remember it vividly. I had my eyes focused on whether or not the Collingwood player's shot was going to be a goal or not and out of nowhere Tarrant arrived from the back of the back with an incredible launch and spectacular mark. I remember clearly the incredible balance of Tarrant in the air and still as he hit the ground. They don't teach that stuff, that was pure natural brilliance. What I remember most though is not for a second after the mark did I think he would kick the goal. I had no doubt in my mind. And he missed. That ladies and gentlemen is Chris Tarrant in a nutshell.
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