Matthew the 2nd

At 53 games and 24 years of age it is looking like the season that we will finally see the best of Matthew Taberner. Been known as Fremantle whipping boy behind Zac Dawson ever since he came to the club but what he showed for most of his 8 games last year and his 3 practise games this season shows that things are looking up for Tabs.

 

Fremantle are in no shortage of tall forward with Cam McCarthy, Shane Kerstin, Michael Apeness, Brennan Cox, Luke Strnadica and Hugh Dixon there is a lot to like out there but with clubs looking to play only one ruckman having 199cm Taberner to fill the forward and the ruck role could be the blue print for not only Fremantle but the future of the AFL.

 

When he played last season Brennan Cox also played as the back-up ruckman and so did 192cm Cam McCarthy and with Michael Apeness career looking to be at the cross roads with another injury and Strnadica not really making a mark yet 2018 could be the year Taberner could really shine.

 

Fremantle’s last JLT game Taberner kicked 2 goals had 12 marks 5 contested and had 7 hit outs shows that he in practise games a much better player than he was when he was just a forward. Tabener’s best games is when he can get a lot of the ball and uses it. And not a stay at home full forward.

 

Another Dockers that should think about being a part time forward is Lloyd Meek the same age as Sean Darcy got picked for both JLT games so the coaches must like what they see in him. With Darcy looking like he will be the next full-time ruck Meek playing forward might be a good way to keep both in the team at once. Or it could be the other way around.

 

Taberner signed on for two season at the end of last season and hopefully he can prove that he has the good to be an elite AFL player