Underdog status no obstacle
SATURDAY’S AFL Grand Final will not be the first time Tim Taranto or the GWS Giants have entered a match as rank outsiders, but he and his team wouldn’t have it any other way.
Built from scratch a decade ago, the Giants have been fighting against the competition’s established teams since inception, so taking on the might of powerhouse club Richmond is not the daunting task some have made it out to be.
Having finished sixth on the ladder and travelled twice already this September, GWS will make a third interstate trip during finals when it takes on the Tigers at the MCG, but Taranto said his side was happy to be entering the biggest match of the year as underdogs.
“Richmond is flying and will go in as favourites but that is how we like it, we like being the underdogs,” Taranto said.
“Everyone knows these days you can win it from anywhere once you make the finals, so we have full belief. We have since the finals started and we have been doing OK.
“We love the club, we love the culture and we are doing everything we can to give ourselves the best chance, so we have got nothing to lose and we will give it everything we have got and see what happens, but we will be confident.”
His own form during September has seen Taranto surge to the lead of the Gary Ayres Medal, awarded by the coaches to the best player of the finals series.
The 23-year-old was a vital cog in the GWS win over Collingwood last week, and he said combined with the inclusions of Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield (who was declared fit last night), the Giants would take belief out of their ability to fight until the final siren against the Magpies.
“I just tried to stay calm and play my role, and I think everyone was the same,” he said.
“They kicked some nice goals in that last quarter and put us under a heap of pressure but everyone stuck to their task.
“We made a few errors but that (fight we showed) will be a positive going into this week.
“It is huge (getting Greene back), he is a very good player for us, but these things happen. Hopefully we get Whitfield back too. He has recovered well, the surgery went well and he is doing everything he can, so fingers crossed for him.”