Kane Cornes has questioned Richmond’s decision to trade a glut of picks for both Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper last off-season.
Richmond sent out picks 12 and 19 in last year’s draft for Taranto and pick 31 in last year’s draft and a future-first round pick, which currently sits at pick three, for Hopper, while getting pick 53 and 63 in return.
While the Tigers are expected to rise up the ladder somewhat making this year’s pick less valuable than pick three, Cornes believes the move was the wrong one for Richmond to make as they sit 1-5-1 through seven rounds in 2023.
Cornes believes Hopper doesn’t influence games and suggested Taranto isn’t a top 150 player in the AFL despite him averaging 31 disposals and six clearances a game.
He discussed Richmond’s trade moves with SEN Breakfast co-host David King.
Cornes: “I don't think you want to be trading out top 10 picks right now for Jacob Hopper.
“Who is he? What's he doing at the moment, Jacob Hopper?
“Like how many times does he get coaches votes?
“How many times does he influence games?”
King: “You said this about Taranto four weeks ago.”
Cornes: “I am saying this.”
King: “Taranto gets coaches votes.”
Cornes: “Taranto wouldn’t be in the top 150 players in the game right now.”
King: “Top 150?”
Cornes: “No.”
King: “Ok, gee whiz.
“How many others have got (best on grounds from the coaches) in the last three weeks? He’s not in the top 150? That's a big number.”
Cornes: “Well, it's not really, there's 800 players (in the competition).”
King: “He’s probably top two or three at Richmond at the moment.”
Cornes: “Maybe, but that’s not that difficult.”
King: “Richmond fans, would he be in your top two or maybe three?
“Maybe it's not that different, but you're saying top 150, he’s got to be in the top 150.”
Cornes: “There are 800-odd players in the game.
“Would you have (Josh) Dunkley or Taranto? I'm just saying, it's a big price to pay for a player that doesn't influence results.
“He can play well and (you may) not win with Taranto. He'll get a lot of the footy and the numbers will look great, and you'll get 10 tackles and all that and you'll get 30 disposals.
“Does he influence games? No, but we disagree and that’s fine.
“Would you do that trade again right now?
“Would you trade (say pick) 8, 12, 19 and 31 for those two players right now?”
King: “Yeah, I would, because you get stability for seven years and they're going to be high quality players.”
Cornes: “Alright, well I wouldn't, but we can disagree on that.”
Hopper is currently averaging 24 disposals and four clearances a game for his new club.
Taranto ranks fifth in the league for total disposals and first at Richmond for disposals, contested possessions, clearances and tackles.