STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Athleticism
+ Competitiveness
+ Reading the play
+ Resilience
+ Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS

- Decision making
- Durability

Plenty out of Gippsland for many years have raved about Tauru’s potential and why he was worth persisting with. After nasty injuries suffered in both seasons for the Power, his run of form upon returning just showed what can happen when able to stay on the park. While Tauru's ability to hang in there should be admired, it also could leave question marks on how durable he actually is when it comes to getting continuity into his footy. When it comes to being in the elite environment, Tauru obviously will have the resources at hand to give him the best opportunity possible to thrive.

Tauru’s versatility was highlighted when it came to the postseason games in both the Wildcard Round and quarter finals. Against Murray Bushrangers, he played a key role at the same end of the ground all day – when the Power kicked against the wind, he played down back playing a key intercepting role, and when they were with the wind, he went up forward playing as a third tall forward. In the quarter final against Dandenong, he started in defence with the Power kicking against the wind, however played the rest of the game rotating between the midfield and the forwardline, providing a target.

The game that kickstarted Tauru’s season came in Round 11 against the Bushrangers at Port Melbourne. Given the job on the slightly taller Jack Whitlock, Tauru showcased his play reading and intercepting ability peeling off numerous times to dispose of the ball and provide an option once the ball was disposed of. Though his performance that day resulted in a call up to the Vic Country squad, it also did highlight the need for an area of improvement, his decision making which saw him turnover the ball a few times. His intercept marking came to the fore again for Vic Country following a performance where he got the better of top Western Australian prospect Kayle Gerreyn, and it included a screamer.

To add to his versatility, his competitiveness was also shown following the championships in a game against the Eastern Ranges. In a narrow win, Tauru was competitive all day with his contest work especially at ground level against the highly rated Josh Smillie where he went head-to-head with him for much of that day and this proved effective as Gippsland came home with the points.

Recently at the National Draft Combine, Tauru recorded a top score of 94cm for the running vertical jump to further highlight his elite vertical leap. His all-round athleticism is exciting, having also tested well across the board. Each factor lends to his outstanding aerial ability, as he is able to close in on contests throughout four quarters and leap into them with reckless abandon.