WHY SEVEN YEARS IS TOO MUCH FOR GIANT DUO AT TIGERLANDBy Ethan Clark
SEN
10 September 2022The alleged seven-year deals for GWS midfield duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper is way over a sensible deal according to SEN’s Gerard Whateley and Kane Cornes.
The midfield pair have both selected Richmond as their preferred destination from 2023, with Hopper surprising many in overlooking strong interest from Geelong.
However, Whateley and Cornes believe the deal sets up a dilemma for the next potential coach of the Tigers if Hardwick were to depart before 2029.
“I was grappling with seven years for Taranto. I’m flawed by seven years for Hopper, like absolutely flawed,” Whateley said.
“The other thing is it’s not going to be Damien Hardwick’s problem. It’s going to be very unlikely that he’s going to coach Richmond for 20 years,” Cornes explained.
“So, he’s gone, ‘Get me another premiership in the next three years.’ He wants another premiership now and if it takes seven years to get them well when Jacob Hopper is 33 in the seventh year of that contract it's not going to be Hardwick’s problem.
“Similarly with (Alastair) Clarkson at Hawthorn. Get me (Chad) Wingard, (Jaeger) O’Meara and (Tom) Mitchell, it’s not going to be my problem, I’m going to be long gone.
“I’m not sure it’s the most responsible move from Richmond to give players like that seven years.”
After being eliminated in Week 1 of the Finals, the Tigers re-signed veterans Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt for one year, and with the strong belief that star Dustin Martin will remain at Tigerland next season on top of the two Giants joining the ranks, one would think it’s all in at a flag tilt in 2023.
Hopper averaged 19.3 disposals from just seven games in 2022, while Tim Taranto averaged 25.5 touches from 16 matches.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/09/10/why-seven-years-is-too-much-for-giant-duo-at-tigerland/