Richmond’s monster $5m, seven-year Tim Taranto deal blows Giants out of the water

The Richmond Tigers are reportedly set to get their man in GWS star Tim Taranto as their monster deal leaves the Giants in little doubt.

Tim Taranto is set to win big. Photo by Dylan BurnsAFL Photos

Richmond have reportedly offered a $5 million, seven-year deal to lure GWS Giants midfielder Tim Taranto to Punt Road.

After being bundled out of the finals in an absolute thriller to the Brisbane Lions on Thursday night, the Tigers have wasted no time to join in the silly season in a bid to blow rivals out of the water in the club’s attempt to snag the in-demand 24-year-old.

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Taranto has played 114 games for the Giants and has averaged 23.4 disposals per game throughout his career.

The man who was taken with the second pick of the 2016 draft has been in demand despite not being a free agent, with the likes of Richmond and Collingwood among the interested parties.

However, the Herald Sun has reported the Tigers have offered a monster seven-year deal in a bid to lure him to Melbourne.

Taranto could also ultimately decide to stay in Sydney. He was believed to have been paid as much as $650,000 this season but the Giants are reportedly unable to match the figure from the Tigers.

But the Herald’s Jon Ralph tweeted: “GWS has accepted Tim Taranto is leaving for Richmond”.

Taranto is set to move on. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The Giants have significant salary concerns and are expected to ask for Richmond’s first round draft pick and the North Melbourne second-round pick which currently sits at No. 19 after the Tigers nabbed it in a trade last year.

Taranto has reportedly already done his due diligence and had meetings with the clubs.

Ironically, it comes shortly after Richmond assistant Adam Kingsley was announced as the Giants new head coach after Leon Cameron’s exit from the club earlier this year.

Taranto was one of the stars for the Giants in the club’s maiden grand final berth in 2019 but the club has struggled to get back to the heights of that season, making the finals once in the three seasons since.

The Giants struggled in 2022, finishing 16th with six wins.

And yet another player exodus appears to be developing at the club with the likes of Jacob Hopper, Bobby Hill and Tanner Bruhn all in rival teams’ sights.

Ralph added the Taranto deal “might allow the Giants to keep one of Hill or Bruhn”.

Geelong is in the box seat to nab Hopper, despite being contracted until the end of 2023.

Last month, Giants defender Isaac Cumming called for the players to stay.

“Each player has their own, different carrots dangled in front of them, but, at the end of the day, we want players to stay at our footy club,” Cumming said.

“Blokes like Hopper obviously have a pretty big decision to make. It’s up to them and their manager, but we hope he sticks around, for sure.”

Originally published as Richmond’s monster $5m, seven-year Tim Taranto deal blows Giants out of the water