Player Watch #14 Tim Taranto - 2026 Vice Captain

[Muddiemoose]

Remember when the bull was averaging 30 touches a game having an impact up forward and way more meters gained?

When he wasn’t copping a heavy tag two weeks in a row?

 

[tunksy]

When he wasn’t copping a heavy tag two weeks in a row?

Who says he was getting tagged?

Did he get tagged most of last year too?

 

[Daka]

His disposal is a major let down.

Taranto & Short just hack kick it non-stop.
They do more bad things than good things.

 

[Vassp]

His clearances were hack helicopter kicks and nearly all went to the oppo. He is not a one touch player. He is simply a liability but unfortunately we need him for the moment.
I long for the day I don’t have to watch him in our midfield.
This trade has turned out to be a blunder but at the time it looked great.

couldnt agree more. I cant wait for the day i don't have to watch him play in our team, I cant remember the last time I thought that, OH wait, it was George and Vickery (both to a lesser extent than tt)

 

[Le RickyBobby]

Put TT in a midfield mix with a bit of speed around him and watch him flourish.

Led us for clearances and tackles on the day whilst coping a tag.

The midfield has been frustrating this year but I wouldn't be looking at TT. Hopper and Ross need to lift big time.

 

[tropicaltiger]

i wanna see taranto/kid 40% mid/40% fwd/20% & bench time to freshen up

same with nank/ryan combo 50% ruck/25% fwd/25% bench time to freshen up.

nank and tim are prob our main 2 workhorse/warriors we need to get them thru the season

 

[db26]

Put TT in a midfield mix with a bit of speed around him and watch him flourish.

Led us for clearances and tackles on the day whilst coping a tag.

The midfield has been frustrating this year but I wouldn't be looking at TT. Hopper and Ross need to lift big time.

No problems with the above , but his kicking is the issue.

 

[prodigy]

We need to break his heart a bit and move him forward. I read something on Instagram today that he has attended the fourth most centre bounces of any midfielder in the competition but is ranked 34 for clearances.
That's not good enough for where we are at currently.

Once Smillie and Lalor are in the team, Taranto needs to go at the very least 60/40 fwd/mid split.

 

[Willo_23]

I know we all wish he was better, but I do feel for him, us being in the position we are now wouldn't have been on his bingo card. He's also copped it in the media a fair bit even when he was playing well, he's very hard done by.

I distinctly remember him playing a bit of HFF in his GWS days and actually doing quite well (I think he kicked like 4-5 goals against us once?), I'm a big fan of rotating him between there and the middle to allow some exposure for other guys in the guts.

While he's not going to be a chase down and tackle forward when he does play at HFF, I can see him being someone who can help lock the ball inside our 50 at stoppages etc on the defensive side. He'd just need to be prepared to get on his bike if the opposition put a damaging half back flanker on him.

 

[Daka]

I know we all wish he was better, but I do feel for him, us being in the position we are now wouldn't have been on his bingo card. He's also copped it in the media a fair bit even when he was playing well, he's very hard done by.

I distinctly remember him playing a bit of HFF in his GWS days and actually doing quite well (I think he kicked like 4-5 goals against us once?), I'm a big fan of rotating him between there and the middle to allow some exposure for other guys in the guts.

While he's not going to be a chase down and tackle forward when he does play at HFF, I can see him being someone who can help lock the ball inside our 50 at stoppages etc on the defensive side. He'd just need to be prepared to get on his bike if the opposition put a damaging half back flanker on him.

He could easily say I want to do the best thing for the team, play HFF and still go through the midfield as a rotation but not be a full-time midfielder it's not helping us. if he is a real leader of the footy club he'd do that. Baker played anywhere the coach asked him to. that's what made him a good teammate.

 

[RichoLedio]

He could easily say I want to do the best thing for the team, play HFF and still go through the midfield as a rotation but not be a full-time midfielder it's not helping us. if he is a real leader of the footy club he'd do that. Baker played anywhere the coach asked him to. that's what made him a good teammate.

If he wants to put his hand up for captaincy this is the kind of thing he should do for sure, look at how Cotch sacrificed his own game for the team, we need to make space for the young guys to get a go and we also need some more experience up forward

 

[Baltastan]

Was nerding out and scrolling through AFL tables and was surprised to see Taranto actually averages the most disposals (26.9) and tackles (6.1) per game of any Richmond player since they began recording those stats, not trying to make any point just thought that was interesting.

 

[Vassp]

Was nerding out and scrolling through AFL tables and was surprised to see Taranto actually averages the most disposals (26.9) and tackles (6.1) per game of any Richmond player since they began recording those stats, not trying to make any point just thought that was interesting.

thats mainly because half of the time he stalks his opponent, waits for him to take possesion, then lays a tackle.
Dont be fooled by the stat plodder. he plays zero gain football.

what happens is that it looks good on the stat sheet, but what really happens is that it ends up in a ball up and then restart, so the tackle doesnt gain anything. A good midfilder takes the ball out of congestion and does something good with it.

 

[Morro]

thats mainly because half of the time he stalks his opponent, waits for him to take possesion, then lays a tackle.
Dont be fooled by the stat plodder. he plays zero gain football.

what happens is that it looks good on the stat sheet, but what really happens is that it ends up in a ball up and then restart, so the tackle doesnt gain anything. A good midfilder takes the ball out of congestion and does something good with it.

He has his faults sure, but this is just a stupid comment.

 

[Vassp]

He has his faults sure, but this is just a stupid comment.

its not stupid at all. Ive been paying attention, its actualy smart if you think about it.
Watch his next game and then make a comment.

 

[Tomnat Tigers]

Stats suggest a decent game last night but that was one of the worst performances I've seen from a senior midfielder for this club. Some of his efforts were beyond embarrassing and he should be in line to be dropped this week if we are being serious.

 

[Daka]

Stats suggest a decent game last night but that was one of the worst performances I've seen from a senior midfielder for this club. Some of his efforts were beyond embarrassing and he should be in line to be dropped this week if we are being serious.

That's why I never go off stats, I still don't think Taranto & Hopper have even been good even this year. like both been defensive liabilities.

their stats are meaningless the Bombers mids killed them imo.

 

[voorhees]

Stats suggest a decent game last night but that was one of the worst performances I've seen from a senior midfielder for this club. Some of his efforts were beyond embarrassing and he should be in line to be dropped this week if we are being serious.

I can live with the shonky kicks and disposals.
It's the low intensity,walking and mild jogging that pisses me off.
He was terrible last nite, no leadership or fight, just a go to work - go home attitude.
He won't get dropped (I understand that)
but hope he gets roasted in the team game review.

 

[lizard man]

I hope yze puts a rocket up his ass

 

[Nostradumbass]

That play up against the boundary when he just stood and watched his opponent get the ball was a disgrace.

 

[RoaringTiger]

He must have been playing injured I think. Has to be that

 

[Barnzy]

Stats suggest a decent game last night but that was one of the worst performances I've seen from a senior midfielder for this club. Some of his efforts were beyond embarrassing and he should be in line to be dropped this week if we are being serious.

If we are being serious Dow should've been dropped a number of times not only this year but last year when he was complete liablity.

If Yze is scared to drop Dow then Taranto has life membership in this side until he's 35

 

[voorhees]

That play up against the boundary when he just stood and watched his opponent get the ball was a disgrace.

it was the effort of a saturday morning suburban football player.
jaw dropping in fact!

 

[Vassp]

Put TT in a midfield mix with a bit of speed around him and watch him flourish.

Led us for clearances and tackles on the day whilst coping a tag.

The midfield has been frustrating this year but I wouldn't be looking at TT. Hopper and Ross need to lift big time.

TT is a shit midfielder, better up forwards.

 

[energyquant]

Like others, I was really disappointed in his game last night. He just didn't look like his head was in the game, which is odd given we were a sneaky chance of winning.

By comparison, I'm happy with what Hopper is giving us this season. A valuable contributor each week. Not an A-grade mid, but I don't worry about us getting bullied around the football when Hopper is in the middle.