Player Watch #22: Taylor Goad - the Unicorn - set to return from injury via the vfl

[Dinkers]

Yeah early days plenty were excited by 2 touches at VFL level. Hasn't he come on leaps and bounds. Hopefully play6-8 games in 2026.

And let's be honest if he stars, how many of us are looking forward to thanking Poorts and Jason Horne Fabian

 

[King Corey]

Finally a decent song choice. All is not lost.

I'd go +2 on his contract just for that.

 

[Twangler]

Well it was 47 seconds of Goad not 60. It’s this constant lack of attention to detail which is why we have finished bottom three for the last five years!!

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I love that he is getting bashed from pillar to post by big X on the daily. That alone is going to hold him in good stead well into the future as it's forced him to be physically competitive from the get-go.

 

[ansonholt]

I love that he is getting bashed from pillar to post by big X on the daily. That alone is going to hold him in good stead well into the future as it's forced him to be physically competitive from the get-go.

Going up against a ruckman who has consistently been top 3 in the league for the last few years will help his development immensely. Not sure yet if he can be our Luke Jackson, but has has the physical attributes at least.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Going up against a ruckman who has consistently been top 3 in the league for the last few years will help his development immensely. Not sure yet if he can be our Luke Jackson, but has has the physical attributes at least.

It's probably the reason why X is so good now, especially with his tank. He had to run around for 4-5 years chasing Goldy around.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Good to see some improved contested marking in this video.

 

[Event Horizon]

Well it was 47 seconds of Goad not 60. It’s this constant lack of attention to detail which is why we have finished bottom three for the last five years!!

Yeah typical really. Not good enough for long enough...

 

[KillaKanga]

Yeah typical really. Not good enough for long enough...

Yep I've certainly heard that before.

I'm also big on Goad FWIW

 

[andana]

Every time I hear his name I think of a horse named Nads which slipped past the official checking of suitable names people.

Always a lot of enthusiastic gamblers at race time shouting go Nads.

 

[Merlin007]

Good to see some improved contested marking in this video.

yes

 

[RHLK]

Build a tank and he'd be an unstoppable ruck-rover.

 

[andana]

Build a tank and he'd be an unstoppable ruck-rover.

He'll have some opposition. Luke Jackson training as an inside mid

 

[pupstar]

I love that he is getting bashed from pillar to post by big X on the daily. That alone is going to hold him in good stead well into the future as it's forced him to be physically competitive from the get-go.

Very good coaching by Clarko.

 

[RHLK]

He'll have some opposition. Luke Jackson training as an inside mid

Yeah, why not?

 

[DarkPhoenix]

I love that he is getting bashed from pillar to post by big X on the daily. That alone is going to hold him in good stead well into the future as it's forced him to be physically competitive from the get-go.

Like Muay Thai fighters kicking banana trees to harden their shins, he will be hardened by the experience.

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

It's probably the reason why X is so good now, especially with his tank. He had to run around for 4-5 years chasing Goldy around.

Goldy would have to be one of the most underrated players of the decade.

 

[I Want To Believe]

Starting to give me real McKernan vibes. Key forward/2nd ruck

Was just thinking the same thing. Here's hoping.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Little is written about him compared to Kerch and Sheezel, but you could make the argument that he's the most fascinating watch of any of the young crop, simply because there is no good comparison available in the entire history of the game.

When you consider modern athletic ruckmen, the first players who come to mind are Luke Jackson

9

Luke Jackson

Age

24

Ht

199cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

2star

K

3.3

1star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

0.3

3star

D

8.3

3star

K

3.3

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

0.3

3star

and TDK. Both entered the AFL with greater ruckcraft and footy nous than Goad, and Jackson in particular already had a tank that allowed him to basically play a full season as early as his second year.

Goad entered as more of a pure athletic prospect, but his combination of advantages defy comparison: a 6-8cm edge in height over LJ and TDK, alongside an burst speed that's elite by anyone's standards, let alone a 207cm ruck. Imagine if Gawn had Cyril Rioli's acceleration - you'd need to see it to believe it.

Given that he's training against arguably the best AFL ruck in the comp right now, I think its reasonable to expect he'll start dominating around stoppages in VFL games consistently this year. I want to see a confidence to play a contested game befitting his genetic gifts, and in particular I want to see his crazy acceleration put to use. A few convincing games in the seniors in the back half of the year would be the cherry on top.

 

[Caracas]

Little is written about him compared to Kerch and Sheezel, but you could make the argument that he's the most fascinating watch of any of the young crop, simply because there is no good comparison available in the entire history of the game.

When you consider modern athletic ruckmen, the first players who come to mind are Luke Jackson and TDK. Both entered the AFL with greater ruckcraft and footy nous than Goad, and Jackson in particular already had a tank that allowed him to basically play a full season as early as his second year.

Goad entered as more of a pure athletic prospect, but his combination of advantages defy comparison: a 6-8cm edge in height over LJ and TDK, alongside an burst speed that's elite by anyone's standards, let alone a 207cm ruck. Imagine if Gawn had Cyril Rioli's acceleration - you'd need to see it to believe it.

Given that he's training against arguably the best AFL ruck in the comp right now, I think its reasonable to expect he'll start dominating around stoppages in VFL games consistently this year. I want to see a confidence to play a contested game befitting his genetic gifts, and in particular I want to see his crazy acceleration put to use. A few convincing games in the seniors in the back half of the year would be the cherry on top.

Ah, this is the pre-season positivity that I like to see. Sure, it doesn’t take long for the wind to be completely removed from our sails. At least, we get a few weeks of “hope”…

 

[Makeshift Park]

Ah, this is the pre-season positivity that I like to see. Sure, it doesn’t take long for the wind to be completely removed from our sails. At least, we get a few weeks of “hope”…

Easier to remain positive when you just focus on the individual progress of the young'uns I reckon.

FOS, Kerch and Curtis were all greenshoots last year.

We can celebrate their achievements, and anticipate that we'll see emergence of new talents in 2026, while also feeling concerned about our 2025 defensive gameplan, the gameday tactics that usually left us looking like less than the sum of our parts, and the perenially unperforming senior cohort.

 

[ansonholt]

2023 AFL Draft:

3. Colby McKercher
4. Zane Duursma
20. Taylor Goad
22. Wil Dawson
23. Riley Hardeman

All still showing plenty of signs (even Zane) and promise. Might turn out to be a super draft for us. Fingers crossed.

 

[speedy]

Of the few vfl games I saw in 25, he got monstered in the ruck still. Need to see improvement in that area this year.

 

[King Corey]

2023 AFL Draft:

3. Colby McKercher
4. Zane Duursma
20. Taylor Goad
22. Wil Dawson
23. Riley Hardeman

All still showing plenty of signs (even Zane) and promise. Might turn out to be a super draft for us. Fingers crossed.

What have you done

 

[DuckYeah]

Soooo much potential. Wont see it in 2026.

How many blokes we going to have on the list we wait for?

What % of a list should be held for “wait and see”?