Analysis The Matt Taberner effect

Apr 10, 2010
6,649
9,167
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
AFC Wimbledon
Equal third for goal kickers after 12 games in 2020 with 23.8 and the best conversion percentage of anyone inside the top 27.

Second overall for contested marks.






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E Shed

Fremantle Obsessive
Sep 10, 2006
21,556
42,114
Perth WA
AFL Club
Fremantle
I remember watching him at training in his first year as a rookie and doing a training report saying he was the most promising of the 3 talls we brought in to the rookie list (can't remember who the others were). Since then I've changed my mind on him about 10 times and every single time I write him off for the final and last time he finds another gear. I've never been so polarised by a player.
I think whatever happens now he's having an excellent AFL career and to come from where he did to where he is is a remarkable achievement for a guy of his limited ability. He's gone from having hard hands and dropping everything to one of the best contested marks in the game, gone from being a hopeless kick to a decent field kick and a reliable set shot. He's a testament to hard work and persistence.
Go Tabs!
 

Sweetback

Cancelled
Dec 23, 2014
7,647
13,529
I remember watching him at training in his first year as a rookie and doing a training report saying he was the most promising of the 3 talls we brought in to the rookie list (can't remember who the others were). Since then I've changed my mind on him about 10 times and every single time I write him off for the final and last time he finds another gear. I've never been so polarised by a player.
I think whatever happens now he's having an excellent AFL career and to come from where he did to where he is is a remarkable achievement for a guy of his limited ability. He's gone from having hard hands and dropping everything to one of the best contested marks in the game, gone from being a hopeless kick to a decent field kick and a reliable set shot. He's a testament to hard work and persistence.
Go Tabs!

I was the same but it’s hard not to admire him at the moment. I remember at the start someone said he was very coachable and those players usually end up working hard to put the pieces together and make the most of their opportunities. He’s a great example of persisting with developing a player and credit has to go to Hale and co and Ross.
He’s seen players come and go (Apeness, Gumbleton) and shown up more talented players (Hogan) what happens when desire meets application.
 
Sep 22, 2011
29,795
29,042
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Liverpool FC, Washington Wizards
Would it be bad to base our gameplan in the forward line entirely around trying to get Tabs the Coleman? Just kick it to him every time. I just really want it man :(
That last shot on goal by Lobb. Get the heck outta the way Rory. Wanted Tabs to take that one and kick his 3rd to go outright third.
Lobb and his ridiculous stutter step..
 

wayToGo_

Brownlow Medallist
Oct 24, 2015
16,071
50,928
AFL Club
Fremantle
That last shot on goal by Lobb. Get the heck outta the way Rory. Wanted Tabs to take that one and kick his 3rd to go outright third.
Lobb and his ridiculous stutter step..
Think we probably need to learn from how we treated Tabs and maybe back Lobb in to address his stutter step and regain some confidence ;) A bit more confidence and Lobb could have torn that game a new one last night. Covid restrictions suck because he clearly needs a specialist to work with him.
 

EastcoastDocker

All Australian
Sep 23, 2007
861
1,350
Sydney
AFL Club
Fremantle
With key defenders out Freo seem happy to say to the opposition you kick it to your key forward v 2 of our defenders and we'll kick it to tabs v 2 of yours down the line. Difference is cox, Ryan Hughes etc win the contest and rebound whilst tabs halves it at worst.

Importance goes far beyond scoreboard impact
 
Sep 22, 2011
29,795
29,042
Perth
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
Liverpool FC, Washington Wizards
As much as I love Tabs and want him to win the coleman this year, Hawkins is gonna kick 6-7 goals against Adelaide tomorrow and will probably be hard to catch after that
Tom only kicked 3. Wasteful 3.3 actually.
Butler kicked 2 and goes to 24 goals for the year

Hawkins 33
Kennedy 28
Butler 24
Taberner 23

not a bad effort given Freo is second worst points for in the league
 
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