Tarrant named North Melbourne's top Roo for 2016

Tarrant keen to join brother in AFL

ROBBIE Tarrant's switch from North Melbourne to Richmond has extended the Tigers' link to the Bendigo region.

Former Bendigo Pioneer Tarrant was traded from North Melbourne to the Tigers on Friday following 14 seasons and 174 games with the Kangaroos.

The move of Tarrant to Punt Road now gives the Tigers five players on their men's list whose pathway includes time playing football in Bendigo.

Like Tarrant, 2017 Brownlow medallist and triple premiership and Norm Smith Medal superstar Dustin Martin, Thomson Dow and Next Generation Academy selection Derek Egmolesse-Smith have played with the Bendigo Pioneers, while Jake Aarts' path to Punt Road included two years with the now-defunct Bendigo Gold.

And the Tigers' AFLW list also has a Bendigo flavour to it with former Pioneer and Bendigo Thunder player Kodi Jacques and Bendigo Spirit basketballer Tessa Lavey playing with Richmond.

The addition of 32-year-old Tarrant strengthens the Tigers' defensive group following a season in which Richmond went from winning three of the previous four premierships to finishing 12^th with a 9-12-1 record.

"Robbie is a disciplined and diligent defender with a skill set that complements our other backs well," Richmond's general manager of football talent Blair Hartley told richmondfc.com.au

"Robbie has played at an outstanding level for an extended period of time and we believe he has plenty more good football left in him. We are all looking forward to seeing Robbie in the yellow and black."

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