Harry Taylor - CHB

[Asty]

While I thought Taylor was great last year as a 1st year player, if a little older, I thought he lacked some size (strength) at times to hold down the CHB position.
Reports this year from training have been that he has put on some size and after having it confirmed in the paper I am now really looking forward to him making CHB his own this year and hope bulking up hasn't affected his mobility.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/13/50881_gfc.html

Taylor has bulked up over the summer - adding six kilograms to his frame - and said he was eager to get out and build on what he achieved last year.

6 Kilograms is quite a bit of bulking up it would take a decade to put that amount of weight on Mackie.

 

[Copernicus]

That's good to hear. If he can get a similar body on him to Matty Egan, and still keep that lovely left foot, then we've got a top-notch CHB on our hands.

 

[IbbosBFF]

To be honest, it wasnt like Harry Taylor was that skinny anyway. He must be a unit now he added another 6kgs.

 

[The rabbi]

For a KPP player he was light. He will never be built like Egan. (He would have to train with the Chinese Female Swimming team to do that) Egan was very good in the body on body stuff with strong players like Pavelich but found the quicker leading players harder to deal with. Harry got caned a couple of times by players that maybe Egan could have kept quiet. I only wish that we had both of them fit then we could fit the horse for the course.

 

[winty]

I'm sure he'll reduce more opponents to tears this season.

 

[BUSTER29]

I saw Harry up close for the 1st time when i was home for xmas in Geraldton, WA. He is a big unit and definitely looks to have put on some bulk, mostly in the upperbody.He is a perfect fit for the cats down back with Egan out,but ive watched him play some good footy up forward for east fremantle in the WAFL aswell. Id like to see how he goes at CHF,has good hands,a decent tank and a long penetrating kick. Probably wont happen, but would love to see how he went up forward for a few games in the NAB Cup.

 

[Ninty]

I heard Mackie lost 6 kilos when he shaved.

 

[CF]

man I was wishing Bomber would have put Harry at CHF on the GF day and move Mooney to CHB. Harry is a brilliant shot at goal. Might have been the winning move. Never will know now will we.

 

[BUSTER29]

man I was wishing Bomber would have put Harry at CHF on the GF day and move Mooney to CHB. Harry is a brilliant shot at goal. Might have been the winning move. Never will know now will we.

Yeah, i was thinking the same thing Catman. Was sitting behind the goals at Geelongs end in last qtr and knew after the first 5 mins when nothing much had changed that we were gone.Still, lots to look forward to now in 09 i guess.

 

[JUBJUB]

I heard Mackie lost 6 kilos when he shaved.

Has he started shaving yet ?

 

[Turbocat]

man I was wishing Bomber would have put Harry at CHF on the GF day and move Mooney to CHB. Harry is a brilliant shot at goal. Might have been the winning move. Never will know now will we.

Bomber just not that type of coach. Why try something something , go with what got you here. etc . Its why we need to be more experimental thru the year even if it costs us a game or two.

Taylor on Hodge , would have been interesting but I would have tried Ling on him first. He is a stopper with the mentality of forward , who when gets the ball is deadly. Meaning , Hodge running off him would be far more risky than on Rooke or Stokes and in a fifty/fifty Ling rarely gets done.

 

[Eudes]

Taylor on Hodge , would have been interesting but I would have tried Ling on him first. He is a stopper with the mentality of forward , who when gets the ball is deadly. Meaning , Hodge running off him would be far more risky than on Rooke or Stokes and in a fifty/fifty Ling rarely gets done.

Ling on Hodge. Never thought of that but i think that would of been a master stroke. All of what you said plus we all know how accurate he is in front of goal. Nice idea. Maybe bomber will read this thread & try that this year

 

[Selective Retention]

He looks in great shape in rizzo's photo in the intra club thread. Neutrals shrug off his 08 a bit because he was a "mature age" pick and it was expected that he would make some sort of impact but it is a big difference between a WAFL pre season and an AFL pre season. Harry moves well, has a great kick and with added strength and experience can become a genuinely good CHB.

 

[darren forssman]

That's good to hear. If he can get a similar body on him to Matty Egan, and still keep that lovely left foot, then we've got a top-notch CHB on our hands.

totally different body types...will never get a similar body to egan. thats like hoping mackie can get a similar body to josh hunt!!

catmanforever has a point, and i guess that is the knock against thompson as a coach, not willing to change things up. would have been good for him to be a bit blight esque and pull something out (ie moving hinkley from a forward pocket to half back flank).

 

[Sttew]

You've gotta love the way he stepped up to the role in 2008. From all reports the guy lives and breathes football.

 

[Jef Costello]

You've gotta love the way he stepped up to the role in 2008. From all reports the guy lives and breathes football.

Absolutely. We were really fortunate to pick him up - great piece of recruiting. That unfortunately we are now very reliant upon.

 

[TheOutsider]

Agree great pickup by Welsh could have easily taken the safe option and picked up Selwood and no one would have thought twice about it. Such a shame Egan got hurt a centre half back line of Taylor Egan Mackie would be pretty impressive.

I think he will find CHB a lot harder if Harley doesn't play. He will be forced to play a lot more one on one contests without the help of his captain coming across to create a two on one situation.

 

[biggalz23]

Do we really have a choice??

 

[Claude Balls]

Agree great pickup by Welsh could have easily taken the safe option and picked up Selwood and no one would have thought twice about it. Such a shame Egan got hurt a centre half back line of Taylor Egan Mackie would be pretty impressive.

I think he will find CHB a lot harder if Harley doesn't play. He will be forced to play a lot more one on one contests without the help of his captain coming across to create a two on one situation.

Wells.

 

[Asty]

Another brilliant thing to read as indicates how dedicated Harry is. Also he is aparently getting bigger by the day

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/21/52685_gfc.html

HARRY Taylor wrote out a job-description for the modern day AFL centre half-back in the days after the grand final loss ended his debut season.
The key defender has worked towards the benchmark ever since and as a result will head into tonight's clash with Adelaide sporting seven extra kilograms of muscle.
"I came up with a list of things and over this pre-season I've tried to work as hard as I can to become better in those areas," Taylor said yesterday.
"Fortunately, size was one of the areas I've managed to gain in, now it's just a matter of using it out on the ground."
Taylor stood the likes of Riewoldt, Roughead and Hall last season in what proved a baptism of fire.
But the winner of the Cats' best first year player says he feels ready to cement himself as the club's go-to man in defence.
"Personally, I'm ready to go and I know a lot of the other guys in my age bracket are really keen to get out there and play some competitive football," he said.
"Pre-seasons seem to always go for a long-time, we had an intra-club game last week which was pretty exciting but to actually start properly where you can actually use some physical presence out on the ground will be great."

 

[martyk]

Another brilliant thing to read as indicates how dedicated Harry is. Also he is aparently getting bigger by the day

Has much more in his arsenal than the likes of say... Harley, who is one dimensional. Key defender with a great sweeping kick and great ability to read the game. Taylor is one of those rare great finds.

 

[sarah.13]

Has much more in his arsenal than the likes of say... Harley, who is one dimensional. Key defender with a great sweeping kick and great ability to read the game. Taylor is one of those rare great finds.

Hi Martyk, long time no hear. All well I hope? Looking forward to some verbal jousting again this year.
Agree about Taylor, I especially like his long accurate kicks, a most attacking weapon!!

 

[witsend]

Harry is going to be the next leader of our backline. Recruiting genius!
He looked completely in command last night, backed himself in marking contests, left his man at appropriate times and his disposal is first rate...jesus if Megan was fit our backline would be stellar for the next 7 years!

 

[sarah.13]

I have a feeling that the coaching staff might try Taylor more as a deep defender with Scarlett further up the ground.
I think that would be a positive and attacking move.

 

[kicksome]

I have a feeling that the coaching staff might try Taylor more as a deep defender with Scarlett further up the ground.
I think that would be a positive and attacking move.

This crossed my mind aswell, i bet scarlo likes having harry cool around so he can go up the ground for a bit of a run. I noticed a bit of this in saturdays game.