AFL Rd 14 -  Gold Coast v North Melbourne
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 30: Robbie Tarrant of the Kangaroos looks on during the round 14 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium on August 30, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

North Melbourne defender Robbie Tarrant will trade Arden Street for Punt Road in 2022, per reports from SEN's Sam Edmund.

Edmund tweeted on Saturday afternoon that the veteran had chosen to walk from his home of 12-seasons and straight into Richmond's back-six, as is his right as an unrestricted free-agent.

The move allows both the Tigers to sure up a key defensive slot following the retirement of David Astbury and also see the 32-year-old offered a chance to vie for a premiership medallion as early as next season.

Tarrant was said to be weighing up his options with the club that drafted him at pick 15 in the 2007 draft, but has opted to depart as he was reportedly underwhelmed by the terms of the extension.

According to Edmund, Tarrant had initially bulked at the Roos' opening offer of a one-year deal, but upon understanding they risked losing his services, a second-year was sad to have been tacked on to the end of the proposed extension.

The 174-game Kangaroo will now walk freely to Richmond once the free-agency period commences on October 1.

PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA - MAY 27: Robbie Tarrant of the Kangaroos argues with the umpire during the round 10 AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Optus Stadium on May 27, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Given Tarrant will fill Astbury's void, it is unlikely that Richmond's pursuit of ex-Crow Daniel Talia will continue.

Geelong have also been reported to be interested in the 29-year-old who played 200-games across 12-seasons in Adelaide.

The Mildura-born Tarrant managed to return to the playing field for 10-appearances this season following a kidney injury that required surgery.

Despite the Shinboners finishing at the foot of the table in 2021 and still requiring senior talent to aid the club's rise back up the ladder, club captain Jack Ziebell also remains uncontracted at the corner of Arden and Fogarty Streets.

The skipper is said to have been offered a one-year deal by the Roos, but is yet to have put pen to paper.