Harry Taylor's memorable milestone

It was a game worthy of a legend.  

Reaching 200 AFL games is a memorable occasion for any football player, but Harry Taylor certainly won’t be forgetting his any time soon.

A win for Geelong looked out of reach as they trailed Richmond by 35 points heading into the fourth term. I asked Taylor if anything special was said at the final break.

“We didn’t really talk anything too motivational, we just tried a few structural things, myself and one of our normal defenders, Lachie Henderson, went forward,” Taylor said.

This small change proved to be a crucial decision in the Cats come back campaign, as the man of the hour kicked not only his first goal of the season, but the goal to put his team in the lead.  

“I haven’t kicked a goal all year and it was about time I got on the board, fortunately I was able to do it when we really needed one, so happy that all the training you do during the year might actually come off in a big moment.”

In such a critical moment one is sure to have a few different things racing through their head, but there was something Taylor couldn’t help but picture.

“I remember going back behind the mark and I could clearly see our goal kicking coach Blake Caracella, which is sort of a bit strange I guess, but I could just see him in my mind and what he’d be saying to me about getting through the ball and basically some of the cues he uses to help us with our goal kicking.”

“It just goes to show the importance of preparation and the hard work that you need to do during the week to have an impact on the game.”

“It was an incredible game and very, very rare that you come back from 35 down in the last quarter, so certainly one I’ll remember for more than fact that it was my 200^th.”

The nail-biting win against the Tigers put Geelong back in the top four with only two games left until the finals.

According to Taylor, the focus for the next few weeks is playing more consistent football and continuing to improve.

“Our good is excellent and our average footy is pretty average so we’re just trying to bridge that gap a bit.”

“It’s a very tight competition and there’s certainly a lot to play out in the last two rounds, so hopefully we put ourselves in a reasonable position.”

Taylor’s AFL journey began with the Sharks in 2004 when he played his first colts game during the bye in the GFL.

“I didn’t do much to be honest, I had a pretty average game.”

Knowing he was moving to Perth the following year to begin his university degree, Taylor was keen to play in the WAFL.

Taylor was down for country week cricket, which was during East Fremantle’s pre season, so he grabbed a friend, went down for a run and a chance to introduce himself.

“They had a new coach at the time, Dave Dunbar, who had come over from Melbourne. He was probably one of the first sort of full time coaches in the WAFL and at that stage he was basically willing for any one to have a bit of a go and see how you went. If you were good enough he was going to keep you on the list.”

In 2005 he began his university degree and continued to train with the Sharks. 

“I managed to force my way into the senior side sort of mid way through the season and ended up playing 49 games for East Freo and the WAFL”

Just two years later, Taylor was drafted as pick number 17 to the Geelong Cats where he made his AFL debut in 2008.

Fast 5

1. Greatest couple of achievements/ highlights?

First game and grand finals

2. Toughest opponent?

Jonathon Brown in the early days and nowadays Josh Kennedy or Buddy Franklin

3. Night before game meal?

Pasta

4. 4 dinner guests?

Jarryd Roughead he's one of the players I play on a lot, I’d love to sit down and have some nice dinner with him

Lebron James would probably on there he’s a sportsperson I really admire from afar,

It would be nice to sit down with the president of America at some stage, Barack Obama he’d always be a good one

I’d probably have to say my wife as well, I have dinner with her most nights but its always nice to sit down and have a nice dinner with her

5.Life after football?

I’m not totally sure at this stage, whether I stay in football or not, I’m trying to do a few things post footy; physio therapy, I’ve done some business courses, a real-estate course so I’m trying to basically get as much understanding of the outside world as I can before I finish up. 

Photo: Michael Dodge / The Age