Just drop him, or don't

by LES EVERETT

I SEEM to remember a time when out-of-form players were dropped from teams and then tried to work their way back by impressing in the reserves. These days, particularly in the west, all manner of stuff seems to be read into team selection.

c tarrant

Out of form: Chris Tarrant. Photo by Les Everett.

A few seasons back Fremantle's Justin Longmuir was dropped after a run of quiet games. The morning paper got a quote from his manager - all sorts of things were implied - should he start looking elsewhere for a club who wanted the talented ruckman? Longmuir played a good game or two for West Perth in the WAFL and won back his place in the team.

With every adjustment to the team not forced by injury or suspension it seems someone has a theory - some players are seen as selection scapegoats, sometimes the selectors are accused of disloyalty to club stalwarts, sometimes of not having faith in youth or experience of both, dropped players are seen to be 'on the outer' or on the way out.

This week the Fremantle selectors will be faced with a big decision. It shouldn't be big but I bet they'll see it as monumental because of the stir it will cause.

Chris Tarrant had a so-so debut season with the Dockers last year and finished the year poorly. In The Footy Almanac 2007 he was named among Fremantle's best players three times, the last in round seven when I named him BOG against Hawthorn. He has started 2008 horribly and has rarely had the ball in his hands during rounds one and two or the preseason matches. This has been bad for Tarrant, who appears to have lost all confidence, but even worse for the team.

It will be big news in WA if Tarrant is dropped.

Fingers will be pointed everywhere. The club's recruitment policy will be brought into question once again, Tarrant's arrival will be blamed on the lack of progress of younger players like Ryan Murphy and the list of Fremantle's trading blunders will be rolled out again.

None of that is in any way relevant of course. All will be forgotten if Fremantle wins and someone will look like a genius if Tarrant finds some form at East Perth and brings it back to the AFL level. In fact no one will care if Tarrant plays out his career in the WAFL and Fremantle is successful.

It turns out that this week is the perfect time to send Tarrant to the WAFL. His team East Perth plays Perth at Leederville Oval at almost the same time as the derby so he won't be under intense scrutiny as he tries to find some form.

Clear heads are required around Fremantle's selection table this week and if it's decided to give Chris Tarrant another go it should have nothing to do with contracts, egos or backlash.

31 March 2008

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