Matthew Taberner Biography

Matt Taberner undergoes a microdiscectomy after sustaining a back injury in round four against Adelaide, with no timeframe on his return.

For the first time in his career, Matt Taberner will line up for his 10th game in a season when he plays against Hawthorn in round 11 of 2020.

Taberner is one of the most consistent forwards of 2020, currently averaging 1.8 goals from 6.1 marks (2.3 contested) a game.

"I was confident that as long as I could stay on the park I could produce pretty good football," Taberner said.

"I'm getting to a lot of good contests and getting some good opportunities. I haven't capitalised at times in front of goal, which has been a bit of a problem in the past, but it's something I'm still working on."

Taberner has adapted his training regime following consecutive stress fractures to his foot.

"I'm working with a podiatrist and have a few inserts and a carbon plate, which pretty much just stiffens up your football boot, and that seems to be working," he said.

"A lot of it is load management and strengthening those intrinsic foot muscles, and it gives my bones good protection. It's hard at times, because I might be on limited duties during the week, but the priority is to stay out on the park."

Rory Lobb believes he can form a dangerous partnership with Jesse Hogan and Matt Taberner after all three were restricted by injury in 2019.

"We've only played probably two games where all three of us are up forward, so we've just got to work on our connection, but that will happen once we're out on the track," Lobb said.

"We can all cover the ground pretty well. Those two are really good runners and I feel like I can run pretty well. It saves you running if you've got talls all around the forward line, you can stay off-ball a bit more.

"It's just finding that connection and making sure we're not flying on each other when we're down the line."

Matt Taberner's stop-start career hits another frustrating roadblock, with another stress-related foot injury set to keep him out for eight weeks.

The 71-gamer only made it back by round 20 and has now gone down with a stress reaction in his left foot after booting 13 goals in nine games.

"It's probably built over the past couple of weeks but it really only reared its head over the game at Marvel Stadium over the weekend," Fremantle high performance manager Jason Weber said.

"It's the first time we've become aware of it, he's had an MRI and it's been diagnosed and it's going to be quite a number of weeks at this point."

Matthew Taberner signs a new two-year deal to remain with Fremantle until the end of 2021.

"As a team, we're showing some exciting signs, especially with how we're moving the ball and we're seeing some great growth from a few of our younger players and I'm really enjoying the environment," he said.

Matthew Taberner's bright start to 2018 looks set to be stalled after he suffered a suspected fractured metatarsal in Fremantle's 54-point belting of the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.

Taberner's injury is an untimely blow for the 24-year-old after he finally looked to have cemented his position.

Matt Taberner is determined to narrow the gap between his best and worst performances in a bid to nail down a spot in 2018.

"I've got to a point where I feel strong and capable to take marks and perform well," he said.

"In the AFL you can't have those (quiet) performances, even bad games you still need to contribute in some ways.

"It's about closing that gap and being consistent."

Matt Taberner signs a new two-year deal with Fremantle that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

Taberner came out of contract at the end of this season, a year when he managed just eight senior games and kicked 11 goals.

But the 24-year-old finished 2017 strongly, showing encouraging signs in Freo's final three games before starring in Peel Thunder's finals campaign that ended with back-to-back WAFL flags.

Out-of-contract Fremantle tall forward Matt Taberner is still weighing up his future amid interest from rival clubs.

"The conversation as it stands is we're still having communication with the Fremantle Dockers - Brad knows where it's all at," Taberner's manager Anthony McConville told NAB AFL Trade Radio.

"There's has been some interest from outside of Fremantle but at this point in time we're still working through it all."

Matt Taberner says narrowing his focus to competing and lifting his work rate has prompted his upswing in form in the second half of 2017.

Taberner's career appeared at the crossroads mid-season when the out-of-contract 199cm big man was dropped back to Peel after five AFL games.

But the 24-year-old Victorian forced his way back into Freo's attack following a string of dominant WAFL performances.

In the final three AFL rounds he reminded everyone of his talent and aerial prowess – averaging 14 disposals, nearly eight marks and a goal.

Now he is gearing up for a key role in Peel's push for back-to-back premierships, and has put contract talks with Fremantle on hold until after the Grand Final.

"I haven't spoken with management yet. I think we're just waiting for the end of the finals series and we'll see what happens," Taberner said.

"There's no real progress at the moment, but I've obviously been at Fremantle for a while now and I'm pretty settled.

"We've got a good group of boys and I'm close with everyone, so it's a good place to be."

Matt Taberner has continued his push for a contract extension by leading Peel Thunder to back-to-back WAFL Grand Final appearances.

Taberner dominated early against Subiaco at Leederville Oval on Sunday, and finished with four goals and 16 marks in the Thunder's hard-earned 24-point triumph in the second semi-final.

Taberner, who is out of contract this year, has lifted his output considerably in the second half of the season to potentially save his Dockers career.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon says booting four goals and hauling down seven contested marks on his return to AFL level was reward for Matt Taberner's hard work improving his game.

After being overlooked in the opening six rounds, Taberner made a triumphant comeback in Sunday's 37-point victory over Essendon.

"Matty, to his credit, has worked really hard off the rookie list but sometimes you get opportunities when maybe you shouldn't be playing and it can give you a false sense of where you're at," Lyon said of Taberner.

"And probably not as sharp or keenness sub-consciously to work on the things you need to.

"(Assistant coach) David Hale has worked really closely with him and it's nice that he got some reward for effort."

Matt Taberner signs a contract extension that will tie them to the Dockers until the end of 2017.

"I'm very happy to be here for the next couple of years," Taberner said.

"I'm looking forward to it. There is a good group of young players my age. I look forward to developing here and I think it's a good place to improve my football."

Matthew Pavlich believes the emergence of tall forward Matt Taberner has made his job easier in the Dockers' forward line.

"He's a fantastic athlete. He's worked so hard at his game, both physically and mentally understanding the forward line play," Pavlich said about Taberner.

"It's great reward for him all the hard work he's put in.

"It's definitely alleviated some burden. But what we've seen as a group is we've all improved together.

"It's great to have him playing well and we're expecting him to continue doing that."

Matt Taberner earns the round 22 rising star nomination after gathering 22 disposals and kicking a goal in the Dockers' win over Brisbane.

"It definitely helps personally with the pressure the other forwards apply and the midfielders give us a lot of opportunities," Taberner said.

"It was a pretty complete game, personally. I thought I pressured all right, I ran pretty hard and as a forwards group we were really consistent through the game."

Alex Silvagni and Tanner Smith sign one-year contract extensions with the Dockers while Matt Taberner has also signed on for a further two years.

Matthew Taberner makes his AFL debut for Fremantle with 8 disposals (2 kicks and 6 handballs), a mark and 6 tackles in a 38-point win over North Melbourne.