Taberner is copping the same criticism from us that Watts copped from Melbourne supporters early on, and for the same reason - when you are expected to be a pivotal tall player a forward line from the beginning of your career, and you cop the best, experienced defenders and fight against team defense with little support from any other talls due to a combination of structures and list - well it's tough.
Gunston was the third tall at Hawthorn when he was developing, and was able to just focus on his game while Roughead and Buddy drew all the media and the defenders. That's a luxury Taberner doesn't have. He may not be a champion, but he could yet be very serviceable, but to keep playing, getting smashed, then getting dropped, is a slow and ineffective way to develop.
I feel sorry for him. It's going to be even worse for him next year. Even if we get McCarthy.
