Stephen Silvagni is of the belief that Richmond will be successful in pulling off the double coup of GWS pair Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto.
The former Giants and Carlton list boss can definitely see Hopper making his way to the Tigers given that his managers Robbie D’Orazio and Paul Connors often get the result they want for their players.
“I think the deal gets done,” Silvagni said on AFL Trade Radio.
“If I know Robbie D’Orazio and Paul Connors well enough, Hopper wouldn’t have been put out there and nominated Richmond if that deal can’t be done.
Damian Barrett added: “That is a management group that nominates a club and gets it done.”
Silvagni acknowledges that the Giants will be well within their rights to ask for a fair bit in return if both Hopper and Taranto are to depart.
“I would think that the Giants would be asking plenty for them, but the reality will say ‘you know what, this is what you’re going to get’,” he added.
“They’ve managed their list well in terms of their strategy to be able to trade players out and get really good young talent in.
“They’ve done that really well but I guess their salary cap situation, if they look over time they may have been able to do that better. They had a real crack at a Grand Final a couple of years ago to hold their players.
“I think the Hopper one will get done and I think the Taranto one will get done. They’ve got pick 12, the Tigers, and I think that’s what he’s worth.”
Matthew Lloyd is not convinced by Richmond’s trade ploy, believing both players aren’t overly required at Punt Road.
“I’m surprised they’re going for both of them,” he said.
“I don’t think they’re great kicks of the footy. They’re contested beasts, they’re your clearance (players).
“They’ve got Dusty (Martin) who still has another two years (on his contract), they’ve got Dion Prestia, Jack Graham, I love Jayden Short and Liam Baker going in to the midfield.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how they work those two into it.”
However, Silvagni has backed the pursuits of the Tigers who should now have a very deep midfield mix.
“I think it’s about the mix they put in there,” he said further.
“Obviously (Shai) Bolton can go through there, we know that Dusty still has some explosiveness as well. Whether they play (Trent) Cotchin a little bit sparingly through the middle.
“With Taranto being able to go forward, Hopper is that real beast, that ball-winning beast. I don’t mind it.
“Then there’s some talk in terms of the interchange going to five next year, and how do they spin their midfield, so that could be all part of the planning.”