TIM TARANTO doesn't explode from stoppages like Dylan Shiel or carry the footy like Tom Scully, nor does he share the profile of his now former Greater Western Sydney teammates.
However, if the glowing endorsement he's received from his co-captain Callan Ward is anything to go by, expect big things from the young star in 2019.
The exit of Shiel to Essendon and Scully to Hawthorn during last year's NAB AFL Trade Period left a massive hole in the Giants' midfield, but Ward nominated Taranto and fellow onballer Jacob Hopper as the players set to emerge from their shadows.
After a serious ankle injury hindered him in his debut season, Taranto, who was taken at No.2 in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft, played 23 games last year to establish himself as one of the competition's brightest prospects.
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Taranto was ranked first at GWS for tackles, equal third with Shiel for contested possessions, fourth for clearances and fifth for possessions.
Ward told AFL.com.au that Taranto was poised to enhance his reputation even further this season.
"Timmy is a guy I rate so highly, I think he could be anything," Ward said.
"I always tell him he's the perfect build for an AFL player because he's got the height, he's strong and he can run, he's got it all.
I'm so excited to see him spending more time in the midfield this season, and he can also go forward and be dangerous, and if I was playing on him inside 50 I'd be nervous. - Callan Ward on Tim Taranto
"His best is very, very good, but he's still working on his consistency and trying to shrink the gap between his best and worst games.
"If he can produce his best footy more consistently this year I think he'll be one of the best midfielders in the competition.
"There's a huge upside to him."
If Taranto and Hopper can stand up to even more responsibility and expectation this year, Ward believes the Giants' star-studded onball division can wield as much influence forward of centre as they do around the ground.
Stephen Coniglio spent more time inside 50 last season and booted 24 goals, but if GWS can get more scoreboard impact from Josh Kelly (10 goals last year) and Ward (eight), not only will Leon Cameron's team be tougher to combat, it will take pressure off their number one forward Toby Greene.
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"If those youngers guys can nail their midfield roles it means we can rotate a bit more, and allows us older guys to go forward," Ward said.
"If we have seven or eight mids that can do that in the one game then we can be pretty dangerous for the whole game, which can only help the team.
"When I think about our team, we've got some great depth and guys that can play anywhere.
"Lachie Whitfield, Stephen Coniglio, Timmy Taranto are those sorts of players."
Whitfield had a career-best season when he was crowned club champion and won selection in the Virgin Australia All Australian team playing as a defender for the first time last year, and he's the poster boy of Ward's vision for a more versatile and dynamic Giants' team.
"Lachie is so handy for us because he can play on the wing or through the midfield, and we saw what he did last year off half-back," he said.
"He was amazing last year so if he can continue to do that, and we can swing him onto the wing or through the midfield, he's going to be a handful for opposition clubs."
