Richmond "hot favourite" out of 4 Vic clubs interested in Tim Taranto (SEN)

[one-eyed]

FOUR VICTORIAN CLUBS INTERESTED IN GIANTS STAR

Alex Zaia
SEN
6 July 2022

Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon and Geelong are all interested in GWS star Tim Taranto, reports Sam McClure.

Taranto’s two-year contract with the Giants expires at season’s end.

The 24-year-old is yet to decide on his future beyond this year as a host of Victorian clubs circle the out-of-contract midfielder.

“It’s always around this time of year where a player emerges as someone that could have a huge domino effect on the rest of the trade period,” McClure told Sportsday.

“Tim Taranto is going to be it this year.

“He’s been offered an extension, but it’s on less money that he’s currently on.

“He’s only 24, so he’s not a free agent.

“The clubs that are in for him are the big clubs – we’re talking Richmond, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong. Maybe even St Kilda, although I think they would be further down the line. They were interested in him a couple of years ago.

“Tim Taranto, I think, will end up being the one that is squeezed out and there are going to be plenty of suitors as I’ve just told you.”

McClure added: “I would say right now, Richmond would be the hot favourite (to sign Taranto).”

Taranto recently said contract talks with the Giants had been put on hold while he recovered from a back injury.

The No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft insists he’s “really happy” in Sydney.

“We kind of paused talks when I hurt my back and, to be honest, for the last six weeks, that’s all I’ve been doing and I’m still trying to get match fitness back,” Taranto told reporters earlier this month.

“So I haven’t really talked too much about it, but we’re in a good spot. I’m really happy, still loving Sydney. Nothing’s changed.

“We’re just working through a few things now that I’m getting back to playing footy, but the first focus is just to get back to my best footy.”

AFL Media reporter Cal Twomey told SEN Breakfast in late March that clubs “will come very hard” for Taranto.

Taranto, a best and fairest winner with the Giants in 2019, is averaging 26.4 disposals and four clearances per game this season.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/07/06/four-victorian-clubs-interested-in-giants-star/

[TigerLand]

Taranto and 2nd pick for Dusty.

[one-eyed]

Caro reckons we're interested in Hopper and Taranto.

[mightytiges]

Well thanks to Norf we will have two top 20 picks to play with at the trade table even ignoring anyone being traded out.

[Knighter]

Caro reckons we're interested in Hopper and Taranto.

Thanks we'll take both for Dusty please.

Taranto can have number 14 from Bachar and Hopper can have number 5 when we trade Ross out at the end of the year

[Rampsation]

Caro would be right In my opinion.

[Andyy]

I'd take both but we are kidding if we think Dusty alone would get it done given his current form. We'd have to add something going their way for sure.

GWS would want our first pick as well I think. If Lambert and Edwards retire and Dusty moves on then it would be quite manageable.

[Broadsword]

I'd take both but we are kidding if we think Dusty alone would get it done given his current form. We'd have to add something going their way for sure.

GWS would want our first pick as well I think. If Lambert and Edwards retire and Dusty moves on then it would be quite manageable.

In footballing terms sure, but in marketing terms it is equitable. The AFL may even insist on it. Dustin Martin is Wayne Carey meets Karmichael Hunt. The AFL isn't going to create a fake team out of thin air and then have them turn down the greatest marketing opportunity for an emerging market since Franklin and Fevola. The AFL's business obsession with memberships and viewership will trump GWS' list integrity every time.

[one-eyed]

Bull market: Four Victorian clubs in the hunt for Giants star Taranto

Sam McClure
The Age
July 7, 2022

Melbourne-bred Greater Western Sydney bull Tim Taranto is being hunted by several big Victorian clubs as the feeding frenzy resulting from the Giants’ salary-cap squeeze heats up again.

Club sources have told The Age that Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Essendon have all made inquiries about the inside midfielder.

Richmond have previously shown strong interest in Taranto’s midfield teammate Tom Green, who is the grandson of Tigers hall-of-famer Michael Green, but have recently become aware of Green’s strong intentions to stay in western Sydney.

They believe Taranto could be a replacement for triple-premiership captain Trent Cotchin, who is weighing up whether the 2022 season will be his last.

Essendon can turn their attention to Taranto, after Gold Coast livewire Izak Rankine said he wished to remain at the Suns, following an approach from the Bombers.

Two senior football sources told The Age that Essendon had tabled a long-term, multimillion-dollar offer to Rankine, but the Bombers have vehemently denied that. Essendon did not wish to speak publicly about Rankine.

Essendon have been desperate for big-bodied midfielder for years, having missed out on premiership Bulldog Josh Dunkley at the end of 2020, which is why they have shown strong interest in Taranto.

They have also been bereft of small forwards in recent seasons. Orazio Fantasia moved to Port Adelaide at the end of 2020, while they were unlucky to lose Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who retired midway through this season.

Best and fairest in their 2019 grand final season, Taranto has been offered a reduction in pay to stay a GWS player.

Club sources have told The Age he is desperate to stay in Sydney and loves the club, but another GWS salary cap squeeze is likely to lead to his departure in October’s trade period.

Sources close to Taranto say he is also waiting to see who replaces Leon Cameron as coach.

Taranto is out of contract but not yet a free agent, meaning any club seeking his services would have to trade for him.

The Bombers, who have been disappointing in 2022, are aggressively stalking rival clubs as they look to bolster their list with both speed and size.

The Giants, who have played in 13 finals since 2016, are now in a different phase of their list build and are looking for a long-term replacement for former coach Cameron.

Despite that, they still have Stephen Coniglio, Josh Kelly, Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield on big money, long-term contracts. Jacob Hopper, another talented Giants midfielder, is contracted for 2023.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/at-least-four-victorian-clubs-chasing-taranto-20220706-p5azjv.html

[pmac21]

Taranto and 2nd pick for Dusty.

They will need to offload both just to afford Dusty and probably others.  Throw in Tenner Bruhn and deal is done.

[MaccaDacca]

If he goes, I still think Dusty will end up at Sydney not GWS so a three way deal type scenario may happen.

GWS cant afford Dusty even minus Taranto in their Salary Cap, from what we are hearing.

And the need for them to clear $$ may put us in a strong position when it comes to trading picks etc

[one-eyed]

RICHMOND GREAT REACTS TO TARANTO TRADE STORY

By Alex Zaia
SEN
7 July 2022

Tim Taranto is “exactly” what Richmond needs to bolster their midfield stocks, according to club great Matthew Richardson.

The GWS on-baller is attracting interest from four Victorian clubs – the Tigers, Collingwood, Essendon and Geelong – according to Sportsday co-host Sam McClure.

McClure believes Richmond is the “hot favourite” to land the unsigned Giants star if he seeks a move home to Victoria.

Richardson says the 24-year-old is the injection of youth the Tigers need to revitalise their ageing midfield.

“That’s a big story,” the Richmond Hall of Famer told Sportsday.

“I think Taranto would be in-demand from a number of clubs and Sam mentioned a few of them there. He mentioned Richmond being number one.

“Clearly they’d be into a midfielder you would think like Taranto.

“Trent Cotchin, even if he plays on, has probably got one more year. (Kane) Lambert’s hip is gone, you would think he’s probably not going to play. (Dion) Prestia’s getting older, he’s 30 and had injuries. And we know Dusty (Dustin Martin) is 31 now as well.

“I would think he’d be exactly what Richmond would need. He can play inside, he can get plenty of the footy.

“They need a midfielder and he’s in the right age bracket.”

Taranto is a best and fairest winner with the Giants in 2019, the season they made their first ever Grand Final.

The former No.2 draft pick has played 109 games for GWS.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/07/06/richmond-great-reacts-to-taranto-trade-story/

[Assange Tiger 😎]

The prophecy of Dio...

[Andyy]

If he goes, I still think Dusty will end up at Sydney not GWS so a three way deal type scenario may happen.

GWS cant afford Dusty even minus Taranto in their Salary Cap, from what we are hearing.

And the need for them to clear $$ may put us in a strong position when it comes to trading picks etc

Should work out a deal to take Hopper as well. That'll give them the space for Dusty. Once we retire Edwards and Lambert + move on Dusty we'll be fine.

The prophecy of Dio...

Pffft loads of people called this yonks ago

[mightytiges]

True story: When we played GWS last year at Docklands (the one we narrowly won), the bloke sitting next to me happened to be a member of Taranto's family (he even showed me his driver's licence at the end of the game to prove it). Lucky, I said Tim was a gun before he showed me . The bloke was a Geelong supporter too so if the rest of the family are Cats fans then they'll be pushing for Taranto to end up down the Princes Hwy.