After struggling in his first two games of the season, both of which Fremantle lost, rumours began circulating the 27-year-old was unhappy in Perth and perhaps looking for a release from his lucrative contract.
Tarrant's absence from the side which beat West Coast last weekend did nothing to quell the speculation, despite statements from the players and coach Mark Harvey that he was satisfied with life in Perth, if not his form.
Now Harvey and outgoing chief executive Cameron Schwab have gone one step further, hitting out at speculation on Tarrant's future.
"There appears to be a campaign trying to run him out of the state and I am actually, on behalf of Chris, going to protect him from all of that," Harvey told Fairfax radio.
"He is OK, he has had a 10-year career and I think that counts for a lot in selection.
"If he has had two ordinary games, I think a 10-year career means he still has an exemption or two from going straight back to the WAFL.
"It does not do any good for Chris Tarrant, because it is untrue.
"He is a guy that does like living here and loves playing for Fremantle. He is working harder than ever to find the form. It is totally unfounded."
Before last weekend's omission, which Harvey attributed to a neck injury suffered in training, Tarrant told fremantlefc.com.au he was enjoying life in WA - while also planning for life after football.
"My lifestyle has probably changed a bit since I have been over here in Perth. In Melbourne I used to spend a fair bit of time eating out at restaurants and enjoying the Melbourne side of things," he said.
"I have still got three years on my contract, but I am not getting any younger - this is my 11th year playing. Some young kids are just getting started but I am probably coming towards the end of my career.
"Whenever I do finish I would have had a good career at AFL level."
Schwab said despite a disappointing start to Tarrant's year, he was backing the former Magpie to be at the club long after his own departure in October.
"Chris is obviously under a fair bit pressure at the moment because he has started the year poorly. But I think he has embraced Perth as a lot of people do," Schwab said.
"The most disappointing thing for him is that he actually completed a really good pre-season and was healthy.
"And perhaps that is part of his expectation, that he thought because he had a good start to the season last year without a pre-season, that with a good pre-season he was going to take off.
"I would be surprised if he did not play a lot of good footy for our club."
