Richmond will turn its attention to landing Jacob Hopper after securing an AFL trade deal for his GWS teammate Tim Taranto.
Key points:
- Taranto moves to the Tigers on a seven-year deal
- The Tigers gave the Giants pick 12 and 19 in the national draft
- The Giants traded Bobby Hill to the Magpies
The Tigers parted with draft picks 12 and 19 in exchange for Taranto, who has signed a seven-year contract.
Fellow midfielder Hopper will require a separate deal and could cost Richmond next year’s first-round pick.
Taranto and Hopper are key to the Tigers’ plans to regenerate their engine room for another premiership push after falling short the last two seasons.
Taranto played 114 matches for GWS over six seasons after being selected with pick number two in the 2016 draft.
The 24-year-old won the Giants’ best-and-fairest award in 2019, when the club lost the grand final to Richmond.
“Tim is a player we admire because of his obvious on-field ability and also his work rate, high standards and leadership traits,” Richmond’s general manager of football talent Blair Hartley said in a statement.
“At only 24 years of age Tim has a lot of very good football ahead of him and we are delighted that he will have the opportunity to do that in yellow and black.
“We think Tim will be a very popular player among his new teammates, coaches, staff and, of course, our supporter base.”
It is expected at least four players will leave GWS during the trade period, with Bobby Hill securing his move to Collingwood on Monday and Tanner Bruhn heavily linked with Geelong.
The Magpies received Hill and pick 40 in exchange for pick 43 and a future second-round selection.
Hill wanted a move to Victoria last year to be closer to family but was denied his request.
The 22-year-old small forward took indefinite leave in May this year following his diagnosis with testicular cancer.
He made a remarkable return to action with the Giants’ reserves in their final VFL match of the season.
“I have a lot of friends and people at the Giants who have supported me through a very difficult period of my life,” Hill said.
“I thank the club for the overarching support and care they gave me and my family.
“Those who know me understand that Collingwood is the right place for me to take my career.
“There is a special dynamic with this group and I am really looking forward to meeting the boys and being guided by Craig [McRae] and his coaching side.”
Hill played 41 matches in four seasons with GWS, kicking 34 goals.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
