Star recruit’s pre-season labelled “pretty special” as Tigers look to contend in 2023

Tim Taranto is enjoying a faultless start to life at Richmond this pre-season.

After joining the club in the trade period, the former Giant has not missed a beat by winning a pair of time trial runs before and after the Christmas break.

Following a 2021 campaign that saw him claim 15 Brownlow votes, Taranto’s last season with GWS was a step back as he saw his numbers dip across the board as injuries kept him to just 16 games.

Determined to return to his best, AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich described Taranto’s early impact at Punt Road as “pretty special” as he looks to hit the ground running in yellow and black.

“You can’t forget that he had a lot of issues with his body last year,” Gabelich said on SEN Breakfast.

“He had a pretty disappointing year in terms of his output, he had a back injury that just sort of plagued him.

“All of the unknown of whether he was going to stay or whether he was going to go (weighed on him), obviously he went in the end.

“To win both time trials on either side of Christmas is a really strong start - he was one of the best runners at Greater Western Sydney.

“He dethroned Kamdyn McIntosh before Christmas (in the time trial) … he held off Hugo Ralphsmith (in the second run) who actually was really impressive as well, he held him off by less than a second.

“I think Tim Taranto has had a pretty special start to life at Richmond, it is only early days, but it’s a really strong start after a pretty tough 2022.”

David King is another who is excited about what Taranto – and fellow former Giant Jacob Hopper – can do for Richmond after joining the club in the off-season.

King believes their recruitment extends the Tigers’ premiership window as he tipped the midfield pair to complement the current Richmond group perfectly.

“100 per cent they are (back in premiership contention),” King said on SEN Afternoons.

“Look at what they were able to get in the off-season, the talent that walked through the door there are just going to hit the ground running.

“Taranto, we know a lot about him, he’s that centre-forward player that Damien Hardwick loves.

“Hopper is just that clearance winner, it’s been (Dion) Prestia or bust as a clearance player for Richmond and he’s been heavily affected the last few years with injury.

“To get Hopper in who is just 25 years of age is an absolute boom (pick up), Taranto is the same – he’s actually younger than Hopper.

“They’ve got two guys in their prime that are going to be there for a long period of time.”

Taranto and Hopper will aim to make their Richmond debuts when the Tigers face Carlton in their traditional Round 1 matchup on Thursday, March 16 at the MCG.