Tarrant on top of the world

by LES EVERETT

AS we suggested, the selection of Chris Tarrant was big news in derby week in WA.

One story in The West Australian suggested Fremantle was going to pull a match-winning move by playing Tarrant who had also played in rounds one and two.

Scott Cummings, former full forward for everyone, was quoted as saying sending Tarrant to the WAFL would be counter-productive because delivery to the out-of-form key forward would be bad. That was an interesting observation because one of the reasons given for Tarrant's poor form for the Dockers was poor delivery from the midfield. It also made me wonder how any key forward ever got the ball in the WAFL. As the game approached Fremantle coach Mark Harvey made it clear to anyone who would listen that Tarrant would play in the derby. The importance assigned to an out-of-form player was puzzling.

I like footy omens so thought I'd really stumbled onto something when I dropped into a second-hand bookshop in Rokeby Road, Subiaco on my way to the oval. There were thousands of books in the shop but one stood out... Tarrant on Top of the World by Chris Tarrant.

I'd hardly had time to wonder about the magnitude of Tarrant's return to form when the person sitting next me at Subiaco Oval provided the news that Tarrant (back injury), Luke McPharlin (hip) and Garrick Ibbotson (infected knee) were out of the line-up.

The Tarrant story didn't end there. Next day in the Sunday Times came the almost inevitable story that he was unhappy and wanted to return to Melbourne. 'A top Melbourne-based official, who asked not to be named, had confirmed his club had been approached about a possible return for the disgruntled forward to his home town.' In an interview on 6PR during the week Sunday Times journalist Kim Hagdorn claimed he'd toned the story down out of respect to Harvey who he quoted in the story as saying of Tarrant: 'He's not disgruntled at all.' Hagdorn hinted that if he told all he knew a number of high-ranking Fremantle officials would also be under the spotlight.

Tarrant was chosen in Fremantle's team to play Richmond on Sunday. He's one decent game away from being a contented footballer living a happy life near the beach in WA.

By the way Tarrant on Top of the World has a sub-title - In search of the polar bear. The Chris Tarrant who wrote it is a popular English broadcaster who, among other things, hosted Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

11 April 2008

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