Player Watch #5: Curtis Taylor - re-signed until the end of 2024

[The Nostradamus]

Yeh will echo others was very good on CJ negating him

 

[the big lebowski]

What’s with the dropped marks? Zurhaar a bit the same. Maybe not concentrating long enough.

 

[shinboner magic]

What’s with the dropped marks? Zurhaar a bit the same. Maybe not concentrating long enough.

Yeah he’s a bit off but loving his effort.
It will turn for him with that attitude

 

[The chorus]

I'm no where near as knowledgeable as most on here but after finally watching the replay i thought he made some great defensive efforts.

You are certainly more modest than many on here, so congratulations on that anyway

 

[Snake_Baker]

Needs to take his chances. Will end up at the crossroads in 12 months time if he doesn't take the next step.

 

[Carlos Herrrnandez]

As one of his biggest fanboys, I feel he’s regressed a bit. Would love to see him stick a few more tackles as he has a good offensive side.

 

[bhoysdontcry67]

Needs some gripo.

Will be a good player we just needs to keep getting games into him.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Needs some gripo.

Will be a good player we just needs to keep getting games into him.

It's an issue at the moment.

Nothing wrong with his work rate however.

 

[amaz199]

It will happen. Obviously having a rollercoaster run.

Dropping those grabs isn't the end of the world. He's cracking in, getting to the right spots, leading, pressuring, etc. It does look bad when it happens though since it's in dangerous parts of the ground. I reckon the win will do him good. If we lost, he would probably feel shattered.

As the team gains confidence, so will he. It's infectious in football.

 

[Fish Sticks]

He had an almost game... a couple of times he jumped a bit early & dropped another couple he should’ve taken, but he still had 15 touches & a goal in a difficult position on the ground.
His energy & intent will hold him in good stead. I have no doubt he will be a ripper!

 

[Fish Sticks]

He has played less games than Jack Mahoney... he just needs a good run at it

 

[Billy Not Really]

I think he's progressing just fine, he's adding more strings to his bow as a player and up & downer games happen, its a part of the progress.

Obviously didn't stick the marks but at least he's getting to them, big Tommy had the same issues and now he's clunking them every week so the worm can turn just needs to persist. Don't drop him, he's matured enough now to be playing every week.

 

[Shermanator]

I think he's progressing just fine, he's adding more strings to his bow as a player and up & downer games happen, its a part of the progress.

Obviously didn't stick the marks but at least he's getting to them, big Tommy had the same issues and now he's clunking them every week so the worm can turn just needs to persist. Don't drop him, he's matured enough now to be playing every week.

Spot on.

 

[Event Horizon]

He was showing more at the beginning of last season. But you don’t lose any ability. If he keeps the work rate going it will turn for him. Only a matter of time


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Event Horizon]

Could be the number 5 thing. It’s not a great number at North. 31 has a lot more going for it. Might even resurrect Menadue from the dead.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[the big lebowski]

He has played less games than Jack Mahoney... he just needs a good run at it

Jack Mahony and Curtis Taylor AFL Stats Comparison

Jack Mahony and Curtis Taylor AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Bloody close but on numbers you’d have to say Taylor just in front overall.

Mahoney is a year younger and currently playing a little better.

 

[King Corey]

It will happen. Obviously having a rollercoaster run.

Dropping those grabs isn't the end of the world. He's cracking in, getting to the right spots, leading, pressuring, etc. It does look bad when it happens though since it's in dangerous parts of the ground. I reckon the win will do him good. If we lost, he would probably feel shattered.

As the team gains confidence, so will he. It's infectious in football.

Hopefully it is him just working his way through a form funk but it's good as people say that he's working away.

His lack of body strength really stands out. He doesn't need to become Arnie but he's brushed aside in contests or his tackles escaped in a way that just looks the result of being too light.

 

[AnEmptyChair]

Yeh will echo others was very good on CJ negating him

Haha If he's gonna celebrate on the socials, the least he can do is tag the right NMFC.

 

[Mjs94]

Will be fine, just needs a solid run at it for the rest of year and a big pre-season in the weight room with Taz

 

[The Warlord]

He got his head all but caved in by Dan Houston's knee in Rd1

 

[Passmore]

Could be the number 5 thing. It’s not a great number at North. 31 has a lot more going for it. Might even resurrect Menadue from the dead.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

The magic bestowed upon 31 by the great RDB is still rubbing off today.

 

[Liam Boy]

Could be the number 5 thing. It’s not a great number at North. 31 has a lot more going for it. Might even resurrect Menadue from the dead.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

would corey mckernan's return to north have been better if he'd gotten his old number back?

 

[Kangaroo Cat]

would corey mckernan's return to north have been better if he'd gotten his old number back?

Slightly better yes

 

[Event Horizon]

would corey mckernan's return to north have been better if he'd gotten his old number back?

Quite possibly.
Back to Curtis, the only worse thing we could have done, would have been to give him number 1. That would have killed his career right there.

 

[giantroo]

Taylor alters role

It can be easy to forget that Curtis Taylor is still just 21 years old with only 17 games of AFL football under his belt.

www.nmfc.com.au

A mature head on young shoulders, it can be easy to forget that Curtis Taylor is still just 21 years old with only 17 games of AFL football under his belt.

After sustaining a nasty concussion during the Round 1 clash with Port Adelaide, Taylor earned his spot back in Round 5 and has been an ever-present in North Melbourne’s side since.

The number five is currently averaging career-highs in disposals (12) and tackles (2.3) per game, but his added defensive intensity has not come it at the expense of his flair-filled forward play, as he's spent more time on the wing.

Taylor says he thinks spending that added time on the wing will aid his long-term prospects, by improving his versatility.

“In the times when things aren’t going your way your defence can get you into the game. The tackles are non-negotiables that we need to do as part of the team, so I’ve been trying to bring the intensity,” he told North Media.

“‘Nobes’ (David Noble) said this year I was going to spend a bit of time on the wing, which I’m happy with.

“Experiencing both roles by playing a bit of wing and a bit forward shows that with our younger group, ‘Nobes’ wants to develop us in multiple areas.”

A key theme across North’s season so far has been process and development, and for Taylor it’s no different.

As part of North’s large group of talented, high-potential youngsters, he knows the pressure is on to become the best footballer he can be.

He says the pathway for his improvement has been laid out in front of him, and he just needs to work hard.

“I just need to continue on an upwards trajectory you could almost say, just continuing to try and improve my form and consistency,” Taylor said.

“[I’ll keep] working on the things the coaches want me to work on and try to build on the body of work I’ve put in already.”

Like many players at North, the time experienced between wins was a lot longer than he would have liked.

He says the playing group maintained the belief that victory would come sooner rather than later, and that the team’s young players deserve to enjoy it.

“Obviously there was a bit of pressure from the outside noise to get the first win, but inside we kept the faith in what we were building,” Taylor said.

“We could see we were building each week, especially over the last couple of games, so to get that win on the weekend was a good reward for all the effort we’ve put in.

“[To] let the younger boys who haven’t experienced a win experience what it’s like was pretty special. It was a special day for everyone.”