Garry Lyon says North Melbourne defender Robbie Tarrant is the most unheralded player in the AFL, nominating him as his left-field choice for the best player in the competition.
The 28-year-old has had an impressive 2017 so far, averaging 18 disposals and five marks a game despite North Melbourne’s disappointing 2-6 start to the year.
Tarrant’s game against the Sydney Swans on Sunday was arguably his best for the season despite the club’s 42 point loss, holding star forward Lance Franklin to only a single goal a week after he booted eight majors against Brisbane.
Lyon believes this to be a performance that cements Tarrant as one of the game’s elite players in a position often forgotten in best player discussions.
“Robbie Tarrant is a mighty player. Every weekend he takes responsibility for the opposition’s most brilliant and most destructive forward and almost without fail he prevails,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“While all around him in blue and white jumpers were struggling with the Sydney onslaught, he stood toe-to-toe with the best athlete to have played the game and walked away with his scalp and his reputation enhanced.
“He matched him for strength, he matched him for pace and endurance and he willingly engaged in the physical nature of the game from start to finish.
“Tarrant enjoys no freedom enjoyed to modern day midfielder or half-back flanker, not for him is the luxury of strolling around on an AFL field without an opponent to worry about for long periods of the game.
“He is accountable and measured against the best of the best every single week and overwhelmingly he emerges victorious.”
Tim Watson has nominated GWS ruckman Shane Mumford as his own personal left-field choice for best player in the AFL.
“When we talk about the best big men in the competition…in terms of value, in terms of somebody you would love to have in your team and somebody that has an influence on the ground and a player the Giants cannot do without, I’m talking about Shane Mumford,” he said.