Taranto in mix to make Giants AFL debut
Mar 10, 2017 - 4:32 PM Tim Taranto is in the mix to play in his star-studded GWS team's opening round clash with Adelaide, according to coach Leon Cameron.The No.2 pick in last year's draft, 19-year-old Taranto has performed well across the Giants' three pre-season games.
Given good time across the games Taranto has averaged 17 possessions and five tackles.
"He tackles hard, he's had a good pre-season," Cameron said.
He's got the ability to run out games, that for an 19-year-old boy is a great attribute, so he's put his name right in amongst it now.
"Most of those three games have been pretty consistent which is great for us.
"It puts pressure on the guys that have already been at the footy club , he wants to play footy, he's hungry, so he's in a good position.
'We've got a pretty tough training session next week. He's absolutely right up there in amongst that starting 22 for round one."
Cameron is waiting to hear if midfielder Stephen Coniglio (ankle) and key defender Aidan Corr (hand) will be available to face the Crows.
The coach is hoping the wretched luck his key defenders have had in recent years isn't set to continue.
Corr, co-captain Phil Davis, Nick Haynes and Tim Mohr have all missed big slabs of games in previous seasons.
"I don't want the curse of losing key defenders like we had last year," Cameron said.
He believes he has sufficient depth to cover Corr if the defender isn't fit to face an Adelaide forward line the GWS coach rates as the competition's most potent.
"I thought (Matthew) Buntine came on and played some really good footy (against North Melbourne)," Cameron said.
"Harry Himmelberg is working away at his craft at the lower level, he's had a really good pre-season, so if we have to call on another tall, then we'll look at that."
Giants forwards Toby Greene, Devon Smith and Jeremy Cameron combined for 12 goals in Friday's 38-point win over North Melbourne and all looked sharp.
"The boys were moving well and there was a lot of excitement out there," Greene told Giants TV after his five-goal effort.
The forwards' work was appreciated by co-captain Callan Ward.
"I think the patterns and the communication as a forward-line group has really improved from last year," he said.
Source: AAP
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