The highly-rated youngster has just undergone his third shoulder reconstruction in as many years but his attitude remains positive.
At least this surgery has come at a better time than his second shoulder reconstruction which was done after an early season match for VFL side North Ballarat this year.
That injury effectively ruled a line through most of Tarrant’s debut season, just four months after the key position prospect joined the Roos at No. 15 in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft.
But as his teammates continued their pre-season training this week, Tarrant watched from the sidelines – right arm in a sling – with the knowledge that he won’t be that far behind them.
He is due to start running in a fortnight and return to light skills work a month later. All going well, he’ll be available for practice matches by late February.
Last month’s reconstruction was a first for Tarrant’s right shoulder. "It just felt a bit loose at training after I landed on it a bit awkwardly," he said from Arden Street on Tuesday.
"It was better to get it done a month ago than at the start of the year again."
Tarrant also admitted that he had learned a valuable lesson when he rushed the rehabilitation of his first reconstruction.
"Doing it this way I won't miss any football, which is what I'm here for. I think it's a good thing," he said.
Limited to just a handful of games for North Ballarat in 2008, the 19-year-old was an emergency for the side that beat Port Melbourne to win the VFL flag in September and pondered the upcoming pre-season with high hopes for his second year.
Those aims haven't been shelved and teammates Adam Simpson, Daniel Pratt and Ed Lower – who all had post-season shoulder surgery – have helped him cope.
"It's good to have a few people that know how much they actually annoy you in the first few months," Tarrant said.
"Blake Grima (who has since been delisted) had a few. He helped me out when I had my left one done. But there are a lot of people around the club that have had long-term injuries, not necessarily shoulders. Nathan Grima's had his knee and Patch (Leigh Adams) had his as well."
Twelve months have flown since Tarrant arrived at North after spending two years as a boarder at Melbourne's Xavier College. And he appreciates the fresh enthusiasm that accompanies this year's recruits – Jack Ziebell, Sam Wright, Liam Anthony, Nathan O'Keefe and Warren Benjamin.
"The academy just seems to be getting bigger and bigger," he said. "There's nearly half of the list in there now – first, second and third-year players.
"It took six to eight months for me to settle in and get to know the boys really well. It's good to have a few young boys in to change it up.
"The training's hard but you get used to that pretty early."
Tarrant is looking forward to getting opportunities in a defensive group managed by assistant coach Darren Crocker and former backman Leigh Colbert.
"If I can get a few chances where I can play in a couple of key positions, I think it will benefit me," Tarrant said.
"I'm hoping to stay at the Kangaroos for a long time. I haven't really proved anything yet. I've just got to get the shoulders right and get the body right to hopefully have a good year and see what happens from there."
