Tarrant keen to return to Victoria
Jake Niall | September 1, 2009
HAVING revitalised his career this season with a move to defence, Fremantle full-back Chris Tarrant is now eyeing a possible return to Victoria for family reasons.
Tarrant's management is understood to have told the Dockers that the full-back is open to the possibility of returning to his home state, if the right club and trade deal can be struck.
Sources have confirmed that Tarrant has been happy with Fremantle and the club environment, but that he would prefer to be in Melbourne, where he would like to settle after he is married in October.
It is understood that Tarrant's fiance is particularly keen for the couple to be back in Victoria and that this is a major factor in him exploring a move back.
Tarrant is contracted to the Dockers for 2010 and so he could only find a Melbourne club via a trade. The Dockers take the view that he is a required player, under contract and they do not wish to release him.
Tarrant would hold appeal to a Victorian club that is in need of a tall defender with closing speed and a capacity to play on both talls and smalls.
Tarrant will be well-paid by Fremantle in 2010 - he secured a four-year contract when he was traded to the Dockers by Collingwood at the end of 2006 - but sources suggest he would be willing to re-negotiate his contract if he was able to come back to Victoria.
Traded by the Magpies in the wake of an off-field indiscretion late in the 2006 season, Tarrant has matured over the past couple of years and, like many forwards who struggle with conversion, has performed better in defence, where his closing speed and one-on-one strength has enabled him to curtail the likes of Brendan Fevola, Lance Franklin, Brad Johnson and Mark LeCras. At one point, he was even touted as a potential all-Australian, having improved significantly since Fremantle coach Mark Harvey made the decision to play him as defender.
While the Dockers are not keen to trade him, having seen Tarrant hold down full-back and release Luke McPharlin for other roles, Tarrant would be able to leave via the draft at the end of 2010.
Tarrant's manager, Paul Connors, declined to comment on the prospect of his client seeking a trade last night.
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Richmond yesterday delisted its first choice from the 2005 national draft, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, bringing the number of delistings at Tigerland to five. Retirees Joel Bowden and Kane Johnson, Mark Coughlan and Nathan Brown have already been culled from the senior list.http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/tarrant-keen-to-return-to-victoria/2009/08/31/1251570665559.html
