Chris Tarrant’s performance at home last Sunday against Hawthorn was said by many to be his strongest performance for the club since his arrival from Collingwood. Not so according to General Manager Football Operations Robert Shaw.

“Chris Tarrant has probably played two or three games like that,” Shaw said. “People are starting to realise what we have known for six or seven weeks, that Chris Tarrant has been very very good for our footy club.”

During the trade period at the end of 2006 the club identified Tarrant as the key target to provide an experienced, high quality forward to work with Matthew Pavlich in 2007. Pavlich, often the target of double-teaming by defences in 2006, would benefit by the pairing with the five-time Collingwood leading goalscorer and 2003 All Australian.

In a display that saw the left footer record 23 disposals, just shy of his previous career high of 26, nine marks, two goals and nine inside 50s, Tarrant dominated play across Fremantle’s half forward line. Never was there a clearer example of the value of the addition of Tarrant than with Pavlich well held by Campbell Brown for the game.

Tarrant’s relentless running and defensive pressure in the forward 50 was outstanding for four quarters. The stand-out for the record crowd against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval was his 50m chase to run down Luke Hodge at a crucial stage in the final term that summed up his performance – tireless, workmanlike and fuelled.

Fittingly Tarrant’s influence continued to the end as a sharp handball to a running Josh Carr for a six-pointer put the match beyond doubt.

Senior Coach Chris Connolly applauded Tarrant’s pressure following Sunday’s 16 point win.

“The feeling from us in the coaches box was he was probably the number one player,” Connolly said.

“He was the one who arrested the momentum our way. When momentum swings, and it does, you need individuals to inspire the team to arrest the momentum. He is probably the number one man there.”

Aside from his work as a leading target up forward, the 26 year old had a hand in setting up seven goals to compliment his personal tally and once again reflected his team-oriented approach to football at his new club.

When he did not have the ball, he was making sure he was doing the work off the play to make sure he would receive it down the line or ensured it would end up in the hands of fellow forwards Adam Campbell, Des Headland or Matthew Pavlich.

He worked hard up the ground to give his team mates in defence another option when rebounding off the back half line. With Hawthorn continuing to employ its customary suffocating style of play, it was not uncommon to find Tarrant taking one of his nine marks on the true wing or around the centre circle to ease pressure on the followers being covered by their Hawthorn counterparts.

Tarrant is averaging 15.1 disposals, 7.3 marks, and 2.1 goals per game in season 2007.