Lewis Taylor is as genuine a rover as you’re likely to see in this year’s draft class. He’s short and stocky and has the zippiness of a Dale Weightman in his hey-day. This largely comes down to his terrific burst of speed from a stationary position. Taylor is the guy who will suddenly emerge from an ugly scrum and dart away, usually with an intention to bounce his way down the field and into forward 50. He might be pint sized but he’s also strong and agile, and is genuinely dual-sided making him a very dangerous proposition around goals. Many including Taylor himself, liken his game style to Boomer Harvey, and I certainly have to agree on that front.
When analyzing Taylor’s skill set, it’s important to judge him from what a 173cm can feasibly accomplish, and not what he may deliver if he was 2 inches taller. It’s clear that smalls often get the cold shoulder but there’s still a role at AFL level if you’re good enough. Luke Dahlhaus, Dion Prestia, Devon Smith, Nathan Hrovat & Ben Kennedy all made an impression in their first year and I would rank Taylor ahead of all those with the possible exception of Prestia.
Taylor’s main strengths lie in his tenacious desire to win contested possession and win clearances in heavy congestion. He does it with so much regularity that it would seem a given that he could take this game to the next level. He was the TAC player of the year on the back of 7 games of 30+ disposals, and he backed that up at the u/18’s carnival with AA honours and a 24 possession average. His disposal efficiency playing for Vic Country was exceptional coming in at 78% and his kicking efficiency throughout the season has remained in the high 60’s.
Looking at potential scoreboard pressure, I think Taylor could excel in the role of forward pocket and crumbing rover. His 2013 numbers were a little down from the previous year but this was in part, due to fulfilling his duties further up the ground. Despite this, all the attributes are there for him to become a viable goal kicker. He produced a ripping dribbling goal at the carnival and in 2012 averaged over a goal a match at TAC level. Coaches looking to blood him in 2014 would recognize his strong ability to mop up from spillages and fire from both pins. His ability to apply defensive pressure may be a work in progress but he still averages 2 tackles a game and has shown he can produce big performances such as his 7 tackle game against Oakleigh Charges.
Despite his excellent kicking credentials, Taylor could still improve his decision-making when starved of room to move. He will often just attempt a quick kick away instead of measuring his options with a little more composure. In situations where he does create an opening and burst through the lines, his decision-making is generally outstanding and whether it be short or long, his kicks usually find their target.
If the Richmond Football Club are serious about their want of a genuine goal-kicking rover then they need look no further than Lewis Taylor. He’s a club and state captain, a fearless competitor and a player who possesses explosive pace to go with all his other fine attributes. If Francis Jackson decides to go down a different path, I don’t expect him to slide beyond Geelong who have an intimate knowledge of the Geelong Falcon captain. Michael Turner has put him on par with Joel Selwood at an equivalent age and Kevin Sheehan has labeled him Brent Harvey’s heir apparent. Fine praise indeed.
