On Friday evening, around 90 teenagers will join the AFL’s ranks for the first time.

The ‘class of 2016’ enter this year’s draft having spent years honing their skills but still unsure of their final destination.

As a result, some will be sick with nerves, with the prospect of leaving family and friends to move to an entirely new city a very real one.

Others will be on edge for different reasons: will they get drafted at all?

Tim Taranto is expected to be taken in the top 10 of Friday’s draft but that doesn’t mean he isn’t anxious about what is to come.

“I’ve been excited for a while but on the night I’ll be extremely nervous,” he told The New Daily.

“Right now, I’m just keen to see where I’ll end up.”

Taranto has surged into top-10 calculations on the back of a strong TAC Cup under-18 season with the Sandringham Dragons and a truly outstanding finals series.

The midfielder, who averaged 27 disposals per match, was top of the competition’s Champion Data rankings in 2016.

But AFL football wasn’t always a realistic ambition of Taranto’s.

He has played football for as long as he can remember, but it often took a back seat to basketball.

He also dabbled in swimming, cross-country and gymnastics growing up – all of which he attributes to his physical state.

Taranto gets a kick for Vic Metro. Photo: Getty

“I’ve always been pretty flexible, so I think I can put it down to that [gymnastics] and cross-country helped with my endurance,” he said.

It wasn’t until 2015, in his bottom age year of the under-18 competition, that Taranto started to think about a career in football.

And his form last year came after a stress reaction in his back in early 2015 that sidelined him for three months.

“That was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with,” he said.

“Just because it was so long and it wasn’t clear how long I’d miss.”

So with a full pre-season and an injury-free 2016, Taranto rocketed into draft calculations.

“I think while it’s helped me physically [doing a pre-season], confidence wise, it’s helped me the most,” he said.

“Just getting to know the boys and the footy specifics has definitely helped.”

The result? A standout TAC Cup campaign with the Dragons, capped off by a four-goal and 23-disposal haul in a preliminary final triumph and then another 30 possessions in their subsequent grand final success.

His ability to stand up in big games – he added another four goals in an All-Stars match on Grand Final eve – stood out to recruiters.

Patrick Kerr (L) and Tim Taranto (R) pose with Chris Judd before the All-Stars match. Photo: Getty

Aside from the Dragons, his school – St Kevin’s College – and the various representative teams, Taranto’s support crew isn’t large.

But their influence on him is remarkable.

With his dad living in the United States, Taranto’s mum has been a vital influence.

So has Neil Jenkins, Taranto’s under-14 coach at Mordialloc-Braeside who took him under his wing.

Jenkins only coached Taranto for one season but quickly picked up on his obvious skills, driven personality and lack of confidence.

“If it wasn’t him, I definitely wouldn’t be here today,” he said.

“I don’t think I would be going to the draft this week if he wasn’t in my life.”

Jenkins not only coached Taranto; he organised kicking sessions, running sessions and took his stats.

He also wrote him weekly match reports via text message.

Taranto’s phone is sure to be buzzing for hours on Friday evening.

And you can bet who will be on the end of one of the first calls he makes.

Anthony Wingard also writes for footyprophet.com – football and fantasy analysis unravelled.