The Taranto Twins Are Living Their Shared Dream: Football, Family and Teaching

It’s the postcards from Italy plastered to the wall that capture the attention of twins Mel and Adriana Taranto the second they walk in. “We just went with everyone in our family! 13 of us, not just immediate family. Cousins, aunties, uncles…” As they reminisce about the food, the weather and the different places they visited, it’s clear that this trip had quite the impact. “We wanted to go, this is where my parents are from and where they grew up.” For the Tarantos, family means everything.

“We went to the same primary school, same high school, same football team,” says Adriana, before Mel finishes her sentence with “the same group of friends.” The bond the identical twins share is as strong as can be. Did they switch places when they were younger? Of course. “Every time we swapped it was a maths class, and I always got asked a question and had no idea what was going on,” Mel laughs. 

Coming from a sporty family, the twins always knew they were always going to end up on a playing field somewhere. The competitiveness came naturally. “We just want to win everything, we’ve always been like that.” Following in their old brother’s footsteps, the pair were put into a boys team from a young age. “When we started there were no women’s teams, we couldn’t watch someone and say ‘I want to play like her’, and I remember thinking 'can I play, am I allowed?’”

Fortunately, they found themselves on the right pathway and they excelled - all by each other’s side. “Every single game of my life we’ve been on the pitch together!” “Not every game,” Mel interjects. “Well, most,” Adriana responds. They insist it’s not something that’s happened on purpose, and while they love playing together, it’s been hard at times.

“Separately, we’re just two good players.” Whilst Mel and Adriana recognise their individual strengths, they know that others sometimes haven’t. “I probably couldn’t even tell you the difference between us back then,” Mel concedes. Often seen as a package deal, fighting for one spot has, in the past, seen neither of the twins selected - rather than a choice being made between them. They’re not holding onto that, however - they love sharing the pitch. “I always think we are better together,” says Adriana.

The twins had their first taste of the A-League as teenagers at Melbourne Victory. “We were 15, playing against Kim Little, Jess Fishlock, Steph Catley… Sam Kerr, that was my first game.” Whilst they were grateful for the opportunity, they simply weren’t ready for it. “I didn’t want the ball, I was scared.”

In the years that followed, they kept watching the league as they returned to Victorian NPL side Calder United. Calder, a club with a cabinet full of silverware, was the perfect environment for the twins. They hadn’t planned a return to the A-Leagues, but when they were told about Calder’s partnership with Western United, they joined the development squad. 

Things didn’t just happen overnight. “This was a long time behind the scenes, but it was seamless. You had the same people around you, the same coaches.” So when Western entered the league for the 22/23 season, the core group had already played together at Calder. Add in players like World Cup winner Jess McDonald and Matilda Chloe Logarzo, and they were ready. 

“A lot of us had something to prove. Ex-players from other clubs, players who had never been in the league. We had that fire, we were the underdogs, we went out with no pressure.” An incredible first season culminated in a grand final appearance, exceeding all expectations. 

The lives of the Tarantos haven’t just followed the same pathway on the field. Not only do they both work in teaching, but they work at the same school. “Again, it wasn’t on purpose,” Mel laughs. Adriana works part-time, while Mel does casual relief work, and their school not just allows them, but actively helps them to balance football and work. “My dream was to play soccer at a high level in Australia and be a teacher. And now I get to do both,” Adriana beams.

For two people who weren’t sure if they’d get another chance to play in the A-League again, the last few years have been a whirlwind. While it might’ve taken some time for Mel and Adriana to find the perfect football environment, it seems that what they were looking for all along was that second family. “When we were first at Calder that was very much family to us, then at Western it’s been the same, and success kind of follows it… I tell people all the time, we’re living our dream.”

Words and photos by Rachel Bach.