Opinion Did Taranto and Hopper make a mistake leaving the Giants for Richmond?

[Joao]

Assuming their primary goal is to win flags I'd say there may have been better choices.

If they just wanted the contracts then they get them regardless of how terrible Richmond may or may not be over those 7 years.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Thread has strong

Backfire - Dion Prestia is clearly as dumb as f***.

vibes.

Prestia is your classic Richmond player

 

[Milanista28]

Better chance of success? Not sure, but I'd much rather play for Richmond than GWS.

 

[Atomboy]

In 7 years we will be able to make a judgment. Not 7 games in.

No deal.

Under the “Brad Hill Rule” I think it’s mandatory to make sweeping generalisations about the future after every single game they play.

Whether it is a positive or negative take depends on whether they have played good or bad games.

 

[demondavey]

Dunning-Kruger effect on full display here folks. Bet you also have strong views on a certain Austrian cat.

Just logic…..

 

[BF Tiger]

Prestia is your classic Richmond player

C’mon… not all of them are triple premiership players.

 

[Partridge]

Prestia is your classic Richmond player

If so I wouldn't mind a couple.

 

[Mr Meow]

If so I wouldn't mind a couple.

From their flag years, absolutely. Presita was an underrated cog at the heart of that midfield machine. From their current squad there's not too many desirables.

 

[PrinceCharles]

Thought he might have been. Looks good.

Dropped this week.

 

[RUNVS]

Better chance of success? Not sure, but I'd much rather play for Richmond than GWS.

GWS has fewer teammates trying to grab your penis though.

 

[Milanista28]

GWS has fewer teammates trying to grab your penis though.

Some might like that

 

[AFDogs]

I feel like Taranto should have stayed. Him, Green, Kelly and Cogs would have been a FORCE of a midfield.

 

[The Nostradamus]

GWS have lucked out here

Looking like a top 5 pick from the tigers this year

 

[Chinacats]

78,300 for Dreamtime game….. vs the graveyard! Nah they’ll be right!

 

[My Tilly]

If so I wouldn't mind a couple.

Nah' we can do better.

 

[RUNVS]

78,300 for Dreamtime game….. vs the graveyard! Nah they’ll be right!

The total IQ is higher with 12,000 GWS fans than 50,000 Richmond fans.

 

[GC2015]

GWS have lucked out here

Looking like a top 5 pick from the tigers this year

Lucked out or a calculated risk after assessing their list profile and understanding they were likely to drop off in 2023? We saw the exact same thing play out with Hawthorn about five years ago when they brought in O'Meara and Mitchell in an attempt to counteract the natural decline of their list as it continued to age and approached a closing finals window. The signs were there last year with the way Dusty was playing and poor losses like blowing a 40-point lead against the Suns.

I think GWS deserve a little more credit than just 'they lucked out'.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Tigers will have no regrets trading for Taranto who has been really solid and likely to win their B and F, but yeah feels like they may have buyers remorse with Hopper, especially on that massive 7 year contract.

Feels like that bit off more than they could chew (thought their list and kids were better than what they were) bringing both in.

 

[banzai]

Tigers will have no regrets trading for Taranto who has been really solid and likely to win their B and F, but yeah feels like they may have buyers remorse with Hopper, especially on that massive 7 year contract.

Feels like that bit off more than they could chew (thought their list and kids were better than what they were) bringing both in.

Its not about thinking you are better, its surely worth having a crack regardless, even looking at what happened with Hawthorn. If it goes wrong you set yourself back 2-3 years, but its not the end of the world coming off the premierships. The alternative would have been to go full rebuild at the end of last year and trade out players rather than trade in. In a few years time that is probably what we will have to do anyway.

 

[boncer34]

Its not about thinking you are better, its surely worth having a crack regardless, even looking at what happened with Hawthorn. If it goes wrong you set yourself back 2-3 years, but its not the end of the world coming off the premierships. The alternative would have been to go full rebuild at the end of last year and trade out players rather than trade in. In a few years time that is probably what we will have to do anyway.

Yes but much like Hawthorn found out the trade currency you get by trading those players will have dropped significantly.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I agree with another poster who said that the wrong question is being asked.

Did Richmond taking Taranto and Hopper on make a mistake? Too early to tell really, but I don’t think they did.

The other part of the OP that I find amusing is the reference to Mitchell and JOM. What exactly did they miss out on by joining Hawthorn? Nothing. They got to play for a big club, an MCG tenant, steeped in tradition, finals and they played under one of the best coaches in the comps history.

More to the point, regarding the OP…

Does any player really regret leaving a club like the Giants, who stand for nothing much and play in front of tiny crowds each week?

Sounds harsh, but that’s the reason O’Meara turned his back on the Giants and headed home after the Giants initiated the opportunity to leave Hawthorn.
Playing in front of 10k each week, for a club that has no legacy, no history and a bunch of ex-players who delivered nothing doesnt have the appeal of a big club, that gets lots of focus, gets crowds and has a contingent of ex-players who wander the club rooms regaling youngsters of their passed glories and what it means to wear the jumper like Richmond and some other clubs do.

Taranto and Hopper made the right call as far as I’m concerned.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

I agree with another poster who said that the wrong question is being asked.

Did Richmond taking Taranto and Hopper on make a mistake? Too early to tell really, but I don’t think they did.

The other part of the OP that I find amusing is the reference to Mitchell and JOM. What exactly did they miss out on by joining Hawthorn? Nothing. They got to play for a big club, an MCG tenant, steeped in tradition, finals and they played under one of the best coaches in the comps history.

More to the point, regarding the OP…

Does any player really regret leaving a club like the Giants, who stand for nothing much and play in front of tiny crowds each week?

Sounds harsh, but that’s the reason O’Meara turned his back on the Giants and headed home after the Giants initiated the opportunity to leave Hawthorn.
Playing in front of 10k each week, for a club that has no legacy, no history and a bunch of ex-players who delivered nothing doesnt have the appeal of a big club, that gets lots of focus, gets crowds and has a contingent of ex-players who wander the club rooms regaling youngsters of their passed glories and what it means to wear the jumper like Richmond and some other clubs do.

Taranto and Hopper made the right call as far as I’m concerned.

I don't think the Giants have any regrets not picking up O'Meara tbh. And it would have cost them more valuable cap space (even if Hawthorn are paying part of his wages this year for Freo)

Eventually the crowds in GWS will rise, even if takes another 10-20 years.

The AFL is very patient, they always knew the Suns and Giants would be long term/decades long projects

 

[Elixuh]

Nah both got paid.

Did Richmond make a mistake? Yes.

 

[barbster]

Both of them back in Melbourne, a lot better than having to live in Sydney and playing for a nothing club.

 

[My Tilly]

Both of them back in Melbourne, a lot better than having to live in Sydney and playing for a nothing club.

Far more upside in the nothing club. They will be back playing finals next season and probably a couple years after that.
Richmond will be sitting mid table for at least the next 5 years.