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Taranto, teens key as GWS mull Greene void

3 minute read

Tim Taranto, who booted four goals as a makeshift forward during Toby Greene's previous AFL ban, looms as a key player in the AFL final between GWS and Geelong.

TIM TARANTO.
TIM TARANTO. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

GWS gun Tim Taranto could be deployed as a pinch-hitting forward on Friday night, when the undermanned AFL side will also bank on two first-year players to help cover Toby Greene's immense void.

Taranto has spent the majority of his 97-game career on a wing or on the ball, as was the case during last week's epic elimination final.

But the 23-year-old filled in with aplomb when Greene missed the Giants' round-22 win over Richmond through suspension, kicking a career-best four goals in the 39-point win.

GWS coach Leon Cameron says a handful of players will need to step up in Greene's absence at Perth's Optus Stadium, where his side face Geelong in a semi-final.

Zippy small forward Bobby Hill will play his first match since July 11, while teenagers Conor Stone and Tanner Bruhn have also been recalled.

The most recent of Stone's four AFL games was on May 8, whereas Bruhn served as the Giants' substitute in week one of the finals.

"You just can't replace one for one here. We know what Toby does," Cameron said, pointing to Greene's 45 goals and 16 goal assists this season.

"We've used Tim Taranto (forward) in the past ... it's a hard decision, do we send him down, or play him 50-50 on ball because he's been doing such a good job in both positions?

"Stephen Coniglio ... will play a pivotal role down there but equally he'll have some time on the ball.

"It's going to be a combination, it's not just saying to one particular person 'do what Toby Greene does'."

Isaac Cumming trained well on Thursday and is expected to back up, having recovered from his rolled ankle in Launceston, but Sam Reid (hamstring) and Tom Green (broken arm) are enforced omissions.

Cameron indicated "stoic" veteran ruckman Shane Mumford has pulled up well and should face his former side.

Greene's three-game suspension for making contact with an umpire, which could become an even bigger penalty if the league's appeal if successful, dominated discussion throughout AFL circles this week.

Cameron is disappointed about Greene's misstep but, desperate for his club to maintain laser-like focus on Friday's final, is yet to broach the topic with the fiery small forward.

"This is a different one compared to the footy stuff (previous Greene indiscretions)," Cameron said.

"A lot different, actually.

"We'll deal with that when our season finishes.

"Toby is a much-loved player of our footy club. He's done the wrong thing."

Versatile youngster Harry Perryman argued Greene's absence would "keep Geelong guessing" and make "our forward line pretty unpredictable".

"We'll have a couple of different targets," Perryman said.

"We acknowledged what happened as a group and moved on. We've played a lot of games without Toby and performed very well."

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