AFL NEWS: Vic clubs circle Giants star, Horne-Francis set for VFL stint, Big Boy back for Hawks

At least four Victorian clubs have set their sights on GWS best and fairest winner Tim Taranto.

The 24-year old, who won the award in the Giants’ 2019 season in which they reached the grand final, is being courted by Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Essendon, about a move home to Victoria at the end of the season.

Taranto is uncontracted for 2023, but according to The Age, while he would prefer to stay in Sydney, another looming salary cap squeeze at the Giants could see him move elsewhere.

Money is only one of the considerations Taranto will need to make, too, with Fox Sports reporting he will wait to see who the Giants appoint as permanent senior coach before putting pen to paper.

Taranto, who has endured a troubled last few months after suffering a back injury, recently said his recovery had pushed back contract negotiations.

“We kind of paused talks when I hurt my back and, to be honest, for the last six weeks, that’s all I’ve been doing and I’m still trying to get match fitness back,” he said.

“I haven’t really talked too much about it, but we’re in a good spot. I’m really happy – I’m still loving Sydney. Nothing’s changed.

“We’re just working through a few things now that I’m getting back to playing footy, but the first focus is just to get back to my best footy.”

The Giants seem unlikely to be able to keep Taranto and fellow young bull Jacob Hopper, who is under contract for 2023. Star foursome Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene, Josh Kelly and Lachie Whitfield are all on long term, multi-million dollar contracts which are eating heavily into the club’s cap space.

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Horne-Francis to return from suspension via the VFL

North Melbourne number one draft pick Jason Horne-Francis will need to bide his time for a return to the senior team, after the club confirmed he will play in the VFL this weekend.

Horne-Francis is available for selection after serving a two-match ban for striking GWS’ Josh Kelly in Round 13. However, with the Roos also having their bye during that time period, the match committee have opted to ease the talented 19-year old back against Collingwood’s VFL side at the AIA Centre.

Last year’s top pick has endured a challenging start to his AFL career, performing solidly amid a horror season for the Kangaroos and growing noticeably frustrated with the team’s woes.

However, the VFL is unlikely to offer much respite from that, with North’s reserves side currently 19th in the 21-team competition with just three wins from 12 matches.

The Roos will welcome back captain Jack Ziebell to their AFL side after a lengthy layoff with facial injuries, but will need to replace defenders Aaron Hall (hamstring) and Kayne Turner (concussion).

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Big Boy back: Hawks captain to return after ‘worse than a first-year’ rehab stint

Hawthorn skipper Ben McEvoy will play just his second game of the season against Adelaide on Sunday, with the veteran ruckman cleared to return from a long-term neck injury.

McEvoy fractured his neck at training following the Hawks’ Round 2 win over Port Adelaide, and hasn’t played at any level since.

But the 32-year old is finally ready to make his comeback, following a long and difficult stint rehabilitating the career-threatening setback.

“Once it was back in my control a little bit, I was always confident I could get back,” McEvoy said of the injury.

“I had some nerve damage from the incident and so it took a long time for that function to return… I was as little as 20 per cent function in my right arm, so the boys would laugh at me.

“I was like worse than a first-year [player] – could only lift a bar with no weights on it. It’s all I could do because the pathway just wasn’t firing.”

In McEvoy’s absence, young ruckman Ned Reeves has continued to develop as the Hawks’ future number one ruckman, gaining a career-high 39 hitouts in their loss to GWS in sodden conditions in Round 16.

The pair are set to face off against in-form Crows ruckman Reilly O’Brien at Marvel Stadium.