SANDRINGHAM Dragons draft prospect Tim Taranto wrote down four goals he set out to achieve in 2016.
Taranto's first aim was to make the Vic Metro side.
He did that and more, averaging almost 20 disposals per game through the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and being named in the All Australian team at half-forward.
The national carnival gave the spring-heeled midfielder/forward, who stands at 186cm and weighs 82kg, an understanding of what is required to produce consistent, high-level football against his contemporaries.
"You've got to have really clean hands because the speed of the game can get you," Taranto told AFL.com.au.
"Even if you do fumble you might be able to get the ball away, but then your teammate's under pressure.
"You've got to do a lot of unrewarded running and you've got to be switched on for four quarters or otherwise you get exposed."
That's why he was so disappointed with having what he called "the wrong mindset" while playing at half-forward in the first half of last Sunday's TAC Cup elimination final against the Eastern Ranges.
Usually exuding energy and spark, Taranto was subdued and picked up just 10 disposals as the Dragons struggled to contend with the Ranges' pressure around the footy and trailed by 15 points at the main break.
"I was trying to play a bit more outside and at half-time I felt we needed a bit of a lift in the midfield," Taranto said.
"I just became more aggressive and the numbers improved after that."
Taranto finished the game with 27 disposals, eight clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal as the Dragons beat the Ranges by two points.
The 18-year-old's second goal was to be invited to the NAB AFL Draft Combine in October. When the list was released in July, Taranto was among five Sandringham players listed.
Taranto has set his sights high too, aiming for the "mid 15s" in the beep test. Hawthorn's Billy Hartung holds the national record, reaching level 16.6 in 2013.
Taranto's ability to run his opponents into the ground has been showcased for much of this season.
Tim Taranto takes a strong mark during the TAC Cup season
The former basketballer's cleverness in congestion and hard-edged play around packs are other traits that have seen him move into first-round calculations in this year's draft.
However, Taranto still feels he has a bit to prove in both the repeat speed test and the 20m sprint test at the Combine.
"I've had that endurance naturally over the years, but if I can start to incorporate speed and power into my game that will help me a lot," Taranto said.
Taranto, who grew up in Parkdale, south-east of Melbourne, came up a little short in pursuit of his third goal, as his school St Kevin's College bowed out in third place in its pursuit of the Associated Public School's football title.
Taranto's teachers described him as mild-mannered and a willing student.
While it wasn't strictly one of his goals, Taranto is also hoping to complete a double degree in exercise and sports science and sports management at Deakin University next year.
Nevertheless, his fourth and final goal, winning the TAC Cup premiership with Sandringham, remains very much alive.
A stern test against Dandenong in Sunday's TAC Cup semi-final awaits, although Taranto is confident his team, despite finishing fifth on the ladder, can go all the way.
"Since day one our group's always had this strong belief that we can do it (win the premiership)," Taranto said.
"We know it's not going to just happen, but if we play our best we're definitely a good chance, so hopefully we can start playing better footy over the next couple of weeks."
