Injury halted a fierce start to the season for Matt Taberner, the key forward demonstrating his burgeoning talent in limited minutes. The Docker recorded career highs in disposal and mark outputs, while recording the largest contested mark average across the competition. His highlight performance came against Phil Davis and the Giants in round 5, leading the Dockers to the victory with 21 touches, 13 marks and three majors. Taberner has struggled throughout his career with durability, missing 60% of matches over the past three seasons, but was back to full training on day one of preseason. A key forward trio containing himself, Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb will startle many a defence in 2020... if they can all get fit at once. Due to injury history and small sample of excellent fantasy production, only select if available in late rounds.
Taberner just part of the choir
Injury halted a fierce start to the season for Matt Taberner, the key forward demonstrating his burgeoning talent in limited minutes. The Docker recorded career highs in disposal and mark outputs, while recording the largest contested mark average across the competition. His highlight performance came against Phil Davis and the Giants in round 5, leading the Dockers to the victory with 21 touches, 13 marks and three majors. Taberner has struggled throughout his career with durability, missing 60% of matches over the past three seasons, but was back to full training on day one of preseason. A key forward trio containing himself, Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb will startle many a defence in 2020... if they can all get fit at once. Due to injury history and small sample of excellent fantasy production, only select if available in late rounds.
Taberner puffed out
An impressive preseason and four-game average of 83 to kick off last season teased fantasy coaches that Matt Taberner could become relevant for the first time in his career. In round 5, Taberner broke a metatarsal bone in his foot that put him out until round 20, whee he reverted back to his underwhelming form. It was still a career-best return in season averages for the strong-marking target. A total of 17 matches in the previous two seasons isn’t much to write home about for Taberner. The arrival of Jesse Hogan and Rory Lobb means 2019 isn’t a guaranteed full season either, since he’ll face much stronger competition for key forward spots than he has in the past. While he’s shown glimpses of scoring potential, his numbers have been wildly inconsistent. Let Taberner drift into the free agent pool.
Taberner turned down low
Starting in the WAFL in his fifth listed season, Matt Taberner built enough form to make the ones in round 7 where he booted four goals in a big win over Essendon and two the week after, the first time he had back-to-back games of multiple goals. His form then disappeared, and he was back in the magoos before the bye. A junk time stint from rounds 21 through 23 similarly failed to impress. Taberner is the embodiment of the main problem in the Fremantle forward structure: too many third talls who crumble under hard checking pressure. The emergence of Brennan Cox might be a solution to this spinal problem, which could be bad news for Taberner because others may be preferred alongside him. He will fight for his career in the JLT, and is not worth drafting.
