Certified Legendary Thread Welcome Tim Taranto & Jacob Hopper

[Bojangles17]

They both seem pretty good fellas , gonna fit in to playing group well

 

[Phar Ace]

It'll be interesting.

Nank = OK tap ruck, awesome around he ground, great physicality, great intercept mark, good skills and intimdation.

Soldo = top end tap ruck, physical monster who controls the ways stoppages occur, OKish intercept mark, and good mark (against comparative short people, not contested) and kick at goal.

Miller = Good tap ruck against 2nd stringers, great around the ground, athlete, like contests

So, given Nank is #1,

1) Soldo probably goes in as the first tap ruck and fills the hole back or forward > Ivan makes our ruck set up dominant/really good, makes the defensive obstacle aspect better, adds some forward firepower (like we need it) but adds not a lot around the ground.
2) Miller doesn't add to the tap ruck much, but adds a lot around the ground

If we want to have a dominant midfield by getting first use then Soldo adds a lot to that.
If we want to augment the midfield and not focus on first use then Miller does that.

Dimma and co know what they want. And I reckon we'll learn over the season what works best. If Nankoldo can dominate the ruck and provide the solid defensive structure back up whilst our mids kill it then we go there.

But if the mids still often only break even then Miller seems logical.

Of course we could try and play Miller as a swingman, Soldo ruck and try to get the best of all worlds.

Honestly think we will know more about our Ruck intentions when we see whether our turnover/rebound game morphs into a stoppage/clearance game given we have beasted-up the midfield. What we get out of Prestia with Hopper, Cotchin/Dusty with Taranto/Bolton combinations will be the price of admission. So many variables now with Graham, Short, Sonsie, Ross and Pickett - such a hard team for oppo's to plan for now.

 

[energyquant]

Still hasn’t quite sunk in for me that we signed both. Probably won’t until round 1 tbh

When we're 5 goals up at quarter time and these two have DOMINATED the Carlton midfield, then you'll believe it. If we can keep our stars on the park, it's going to be a very exciting season.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

Honestly think we will know more about our Ruck intentions when we see whether our turnover/rebound game morphs into a stoppage/clearance game given we have beasted-up the midfield. What we get out Prestia with Hopper, Cotchin/Dusty with Taranto/Bolton combinations will be the price of admission. So many variables now with Graham, Short, Sonsie, Ross and Pickett - such a hard team for oppo's to plan for now.

Imagine what it's doing to richmond supporters!

 

[tigerfan1961]

True its a rort.Should be treated like F/S.

AFL will never waver in their support for a team I’ve always called the benevolent society, aka the Sydney Swans. Been so well looked after since they arrived up there, it’s a joke really

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

Tim Tarantino & Jacob Whopper are missing the big H berger

 

[JR82]

True its a rort.Should be treated like F/S.

At the very least have them under the same rules as the NGA Academies on Draft night.

 

[JR82]

Have had it on my mind for a while now. Rd 1 - Hopper to win 1st clearance at opening bounce & be leading disposal winner on the ground with 9 at 1/4 time.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Have had it on my mind for a while now. Rd 1 - Hopper to win 1st clearance at opening bounce & be leading disposal winner on the ground with 9 at 1/4 time.

That would be nice.

 

[Drunken Wookie]

Have had it on my mind for a while now. Rd 1 - Hopper to win 1st clearance at opening bounce & be leading disposal winner on the ground with 9 at 1/4 time.

Hopper will go to another level. All the focus is on Timmy but I'm very happy we got this bloke across. Watched him a fair bit as I saw him as a trade target a way out. He's a beast with a high ceiling and we tend to get the best out of players.

 

[Rioli2Rioli]

Hopper at his best is a beast inside mid and if we get to see him injury free in 2023 i have no doubt he will finish top 5 in our B & F

 

[Football Tragic]

My only question mark on these two is how quickly they can learn our game plan and, in particular, the importance our midfield places on defense. Our mids are very good at cutting off the corridor and stopping the switch. Hopper is going to be a monster at stoppages and Taranto a superstar at half forward but if they leave holes through the guts, it will open up our backline to a work of hurt.

I'm sure they will adapt quickly but the strength of our side hasn't been individual brilliance (though Dusty has helped a little bit there!) but through our team structure and enforces on pressure. Taranto has big tackling numbers and Hopper loves to hurt opposition mids so it'll be a pleasure seeing them crunch other midfield units and see them limp from the ground this year.

 

[sawyer]

My only question mark on these two is how quickly they can learn our game plan and, in particular, the importance our midfield places on defense. Our mids are very good at cutting off the corridor and stopping the switch. Hopper is going to be a monster at stoppages and Taranto a superstar at half forward but if they leave holes through the guts, it will open up our backline to a work of hurt.

I'm sure they will adapt quickly but the strength of our side hasn't been individual brilliance (though Dusty has helped a little bit there!) but through our team structure and enforces on pressure. Taranto has big tackling numbers and Hopper loves to hurt opposition mids so it'll be a pleasure seeing them crunch other midfield units and see them limp from the ground this year.

our game plan is get ball, give ball to shai and dusty

 

[Tiges1229]

Duds delist

 

[JR82]

My only question mark on these two is how quickly they can learn our game plan and, in particular, the importance our midfield places on defense. Our mids are very good at cutting off the corridor and stopping the switch. Hopper is going to be a monster at stoppages and Taranto a superstar at half forward but if they leave holes through the guts, it will open up our backline to a work of hurt.

I'm sure they will adapt quickly but the strength of our side hasn't been individual brilliance (though Dusty has helped a little bit there!) but through our team structure and enforces on pressure. Taranto has big tackling numbers and Hopper loves to hurt opposition mids so it'll be a pleasure seeing them crunch other midfield units and see them limp from the ground this year.

It's a good thing that what we require from them in this area is something both are extremely good at. They'll fit in perfectly to our structures.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

It's a good thing that what we require from them in this area is something both are extremely good at. They'll fit in perfectly to our structures.

Taranto is Lambert mk2.

 

[Dr Tigris]

My only question mark on these two is how quickly they can learn our game plan and, in particular, the importance our midfield places on defense. Our mids are very good at cutting off the corridor and stopping the switch. Hopper is going to be a monster at stoppages and Taranto a superstar at half forward but if they leave holes through the guts, it will open up our backline to a work of hurt.

I'm sure they will adapt quickly but the strength of our side hasn't been individual brilliance (though Dusty has helped a little bit there!) but through our team structure and enforces on pressure. Taranto has big tackling numbers and Hopper loves to hurt opposition mids so it'll be a pleasure seeing them crunch other midfield units and see them limp from the ground this year.

I expect they will be fine. Start a little ... half naked re our structure. But by mid season they'll be rolling. And so will we

 

[richoatthedisco]

Taranto is Lambert mk2.

Na, Lambert played high half-forward working into the midfield and covering for Dusty. Rarely attended centre bounces. Taranto will be starting centre square. Graham and Ross will be battling for/sharing the Lambert role.

 

[YeOldTiger]

I think Taranto is going to shock a few people, especially those that haven't seen him play. He is a seriously good player. Hopper is just a contested beast. These guys are made to order imo.

 

[Dr Tigris]

I think Taranto is going to shock a few people, especially those that haven't seen him play. He is a seriously good player. Hopper is just a contested beast. These guys are made to order imo.

Hopper is the big one to me in how we pay. We haven't had a pure beast extractor you many many years. Will he fit us? Will we fit him? If we can work Hopper into how we play we'll be a much better team.

Taranto is the exact sort who is plug and play in our team though. He should just fit right in and play that multi mid forward role.

If they work I really see us as wining it all this year - barring injuries.

Can Dimma and co fit in these guys to our game style? If so, gooood times.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Following the trend.
80's-Weightman & Lee
90's-Knighta & Campbell
00's-Richo & Brown
10's-Cotch & Dusty
20's TT & Hopp.

 

[Karp3_dm]

Following the trend.
80's-Weightman & Lee
90's-Knighta & Campbell
00's-Richo & Brown
10's-Cotch & Dusty
20's TT & Hopp.

20’s Shai and Cumbo

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

20’s Shai and Cumbo

Stack and Sydney...

 

[daftmike]

Been watching a lot of the duo Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper. Taranto is a great accumulator and has the ability to contribute to the scoreboard when playing forward. On the other hand, Hopper excels in freeing his arms and is clean with the ball, making minimal mistakes in tight situations. Both players have good tackling skills and bring different strengths to the table.

Taranto's biggest strength is his presence in contests, resulting in him getting a lot of the ball. GWS has a unique playing style, characterized by slow play, chip kicks, and a deliberate build-up of play. This will be a significant adjustment for both players when they move to Richmond, but Hopper should adapt well due to his clean handball game.

Taranto showed a fair bit of aggressive play around stoppages and his ability to push opponents off the ball showed. He is especially effective against smaller mids, as he can physically dominate them. However, his closing speed is not as fast as other players and his tackling style is more methodical. I believe that in the Richmond system, where high pressure is applied by everyone, Taranto will thrive.

Expect clean possessions from Hopper and a focus on accumulation from Taranto. While they may not provide magic moments, they will bring stability and efficiency to the midfield. Against slower or average-paced midfields, the duo will dominate, but against ultra-quick mids like Sam Walsh, they may face some challenges. However, with the presence of players like Dion Prestia and Shai Bolton, the midfield should be well equipped to handle any challenges.

 

[THE THIN MAN]

Hopper will go to another level. All the focus is on Timmy but I'm very happy we got this bloke across. Watched him a fair bit as I saw him as a trade target a way out. He's a beast with a high ceiling and we tend to get the best out of players.

Even better it stopped Geelong from recruiting him.