GWS and Sydney add more top end players to its already talented lists at 2016 AFL draft

GWS made the most with its early selections at Friday night’s AFL draft, while Sydney would be very happy with its haul. SEE WHO THE GIANTS AND SWANS PICKED

IF comparisons are anything to go by, GWS will be rightly chuffed by their top selection in the AFL draft in Sydney on Friday night.

The Giants, who ended up with two picks in the top five, grabbed midfield gun Tim Taranto — who has been compared to Fremantle’s Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe — after Essendon selected Andy McGrath with the first pick.

Taranto plays in the midfield but like Fyfe can go forward and kick goals.

If the Sandringham Dragons product turns out to be half as good as Fyfe, they will be over the moon.

“Not knowing who was going at No.1 made it nerve wracking,” Taranto said.

“Once Andy got the call-up I was pretty sure I’d be going to the Giants and I was very happy.

Tim Taranto is presented with a GWS guernsey by coach Leon Cameron after being taken with pick No.2. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“The way I look it is I’m at one of the best teams in the competition and we’ll see what happens.”

After taking Taranto, GWS then snared their academy star Will Setterfield with pick No.5 after Carlton bid for the tall midfielder and GWS matched the offer.

It didn’t stop for the Giants when they matched Adelaide’s offer for Harry Perryman at No.14 and rounded out the first round with Isaac Cumming from Broken Hill at pick No.20.

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Setterfield had also been discussed as a potential No.1 pick right up until draft night. He is a tall midfielder in the modern style at 190cm and 80kg who has silky skills.

After growing up in Albury he has spent the past three years attending Caulfield Grammar.

The school has had a host of outstanding talent come through its doors over recent decades, including Setterfield’s new teammate Dylan Shiel and dual Brownlow medallist Chris Judd.

GWS’s draft haul (L-R) Tim Taranto, Isaac Cumming, Harry Perryman and Will Setterfield. Picture: Getty

“I’m pretty relieved now,” Setterfield said. “Five is my lucky number. I grew up barracking for Essendon and followed James Hird and I was born on the fifth of February.”

The Giants also added exciting half forward Lachlan Tiziani with pick No.54 and threw a lifeline to Matt DeBoer, who has already played 138 games for Fremantle.

GWS were counting their lucky stars they avoided draft sanctions for this year after trading away no less than nine players in the trade period to improve their position in this year’s lottery.

They have capitalised on their good fortune in a big way snaring four outstanding young players.

They were premiership favourites shortly after the Grand Final and have added the talented quartet along with Brett Deledio.

The Swans started the night with pick Nos.9 and 19 but after bidding on Setterfield and Jack Bowes, they finished up with selection Nos.11 and 21.

Sydney recruits Oliver Florent and Will Hayward with their now GWS rivals (L-R) Will Setterfield, Tim Taranto, Harry Perryman and Isaac Cumming. Picture: Toby Zerna

They took another Sandringham Dragons midfielder, Oliver Florent, with their first pick and North Adelaide forward Will Hayward with 21.

Florent is a half-forward/midfielder with a ton of class who runs a 15.1 beep test.

Hayward comes from North Adelaide and is a third tall in the forward line in the style of Hawthorn’s James Sicily.

The Swans also looked to the future with pick No.45, Jack Maibaum.

The Dandenong Stingrays defender was named fullback in the All-Australian under-18 team.

With the departure of Tom Derickx they added another ruckman in WA big man Darcy Cameron.

Originally published as GWS and Sydney add more top end players to its already talented lists at 2016 AFL draft