VICTORIAN midfielder Tim Taranto is shaping as a key player in the early stages of this year's NAB AFL Draft with a number of clubs considering the talented prospect.
Taranto finished the season in brilliant form, kicking four goals in the Sandringham Dragons' preliminary final win and gathering 30 disposals in their Grand Final victory the following week.
The marking and mobile on-baller backed up those performances with a four-goal effort in the NAB All Stars game a few days later playing with and against the best players his age in the country.
Andrew McGrath, Hugh McCluggage and Ben Ainsworth are tipped to be the first three players taken when names are called later this month in Sydney, but the order is uncertain.
If Essendon selects McCluggage with No.1, Greater Western Sydney is expected to take McGrath at No.2 and the Brisbane Lions are favoured to draft the powerful small forward in Ainsworth.
If the Bombers go with McGrath first, GWS may take Ainsworth at No.2, which could leave McCluggage to get through to the Lions' pick.
The first of Gold Coast's four top-10 picks falls next at No.4, with Taranto considered a chance for that selection. Carlton, Fremantle and Sydney have also been linked to the 187cm prospect.
Taranto averaged 27 disposals in 10 games for the Dragons this year, of which nearly half were won in contested situations. His ability to mark overhead and push forward to sometimes be used as a permanent half-forward also offers him a point of difference to other midfielders in the early stages of the draft.
The Suns may not need to match a bid for academy midfielder Jack Bowes until pick 10, which would leave them with the ability to select three top-end talents before bringing in Bowes, one of the classiest midfielders in the pool.
Jack Scrimshaw has admirers as a top-10 selection, while Sam Petrevski-Seton has been linked to Carlton and the Dockers.
South Australian half-forward Will Hayward continues to firm as a possible top-15 selection, but Will Brodie's position is difficult to ascertain after an injury saw his form dip towards the end of the season.
The midfielder was raised by clubs as a possible No.1 throughout the season but is unlikely to be taken in the first three selections on November 25.
Other Draft Prospects:
