What critics bashing Tigers’ Taranto offer have got wrongThe same pundits who bashed Richmond for trading for Dion Prestia have lined up again. Here is why the Tigers’ monster offer for Tim Taranto can pay off.
Jon Ralph
HeraldSun
5 September 2022When you are in a street-fight with a dangerous foe it pays to strike at their most vulnerable areas.
For Greater Western Sydney, so desperate to keep their No. 2 overall pick in Tim Taranto, a monster offer from a rival club was always likely to pry him loose.
But for the Giants especially, the long-term nature of the seven-year deal Richmond has offered was always their version of getting a low blow that ends the fight.
GWS knows it is already saddled with a bunch of long-term deals to Josh Kelly (2029), Stephen Coniglio (2026) and Lachie Whitfield (2027) so could never risk that type of tenure, even for a player that loves the club.
So the Tigers will get their man and that deal, revealed by the Sunday Herald Sun, will also ward off Collingwood’s strong interest.
One of these days a seven-year deal will backfire spectacularly on a club, and it arguably already has given Collingwood is prepared to pay $300,000 of Brodie Grundy’s $1 million a year deal for the next five years.
But if some recency bias means Taranto has tumbled down the list of hot emerging mids, he should prove a spectacularly good addition to Richmond’s midfield.
This year everyone is wild about Josh Dunkley, who amassed 585 touches, 101 clearances and 18 goals in his brilliant season playing midfield and forward.
Taranto battled a grumbly back injury and concussion this year, but as recently as last season he amassed 637 possessions, kicked 13 goals, had 103 clearances and was awarded 15 Brownlow votes.
When played as a pure mid in 2019 he had 721 touches, averaged five clearances, still kicked 11 goals, was rated the Giants best grand final performer and won the best-and-fairest.
He has never been a great kick but playing as a mid forward this year he was elite for disposals, contested possessions and pressure and a surprising above average for inside-50 kicks.
The same critics who bashed Richmond for trading picks 6 for Dion Prestia and pick 24 (which was on-traded for dual premiership player Josh Caddy) have lined up to kick a seven-year deal.
It doesn’t make Richmond immune from future mistakes but look at their record.
The only players secured from other clubs on the entire list next year will be Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia and Robbie Tarrant.
Carlton had 18 this year, Essendon and Geelong 10.
If they had drafted at pick six (it slid to pick 7) in the Prestia year their options were Jack Scrimshaw, Griffin Logue, Will Brodie and Jack Bowes.
The same year they used the Tyrone Vickery compo pick on a skinny kid called Shai Bolton.
They got Nankervis for pick 46, and he is now a triple premiership co-captain and only 28 years of age.
Lynch was a free agent who cost them millions but nothing from a trade perspective.
Richmond has always been fairly miserly with contract offers for its mid-tier players and if Lynch and Dustin Martin will be on seven figures next year surely Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin will play for much less than 2022.
If this is a monster mistake then at least it is targeted and done with a 24-year-old inside beast with flawless character.
Even the last years of the seven-year deal will be fulfilled with the collective bargaining agreement having risen twice that time.
At least the Tigers know exactly what they want.
At Melbourne they seem to be fixing their forward needs by trading for Brodie Grundy when it would push Max Gawn out of his preferred position and into a role where he has kicked two goals in eight games.
Taranto has the traits and qualities that will help fill in the gaps for Richmond to play exactly how they want to in the next five years.
He might not be flashy enough to win the Brownlow Medal, but if Shai Bolton does next year in a Richmond team that returns to the top four, Taranto’s acquisition might have helped make it possible.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2022-latest-trade-free-agency-and-contract-updates/news-story/2cbcf5e26fce931a5bab363774a3dd9f
