Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Taylor credits "team footy" for flag success

Eastern Ranges defender Xavier Taylor lauded his side's even effort after being named best afield in Saturday's Grand Final.

Surprised there’s no traffic on this thread. Watched a few clips, but never seen him live. Here’s my first thoughts.

• His sureness

• His ballance

• His poise

• His confidence

• His intensity

• His attack

• His tackling

• His reading of the play

Plays like Dan Houston - but imo a better defender, potentially more damaging & with greater scope. Fits perfectly to Kings want to play a more attacking / expansive game & he’s a genuine playmaker. Him & Bowey would be an awesome pairing launching transition from HB.

You get the best available talent & need at the same time.

Would be wrapped to see him slide to us, but he shouldn’t & he probably won’t. But you take him in a heartbeat if he still is.

Edited October 30, 2025Oct 30 by RedLegs23

20 minutes ago, RedLegs23 said:

Surprised there’s no traffic on this thread. Watched a few clips, but never seen him live. Here’s my first thoughts.

• His sureness

• His ballance

• His poise

• His confidence

• His intensity

• His attack

• His tackling

• His reading of the play

Plays like Dan Houston - but imo a better defender, potentially more damaging & with greater scope. Fits perfectly to Kings want to play a more attacking / expansive game & he’s a genuine playmaker. Him & Bowey would be an awesome pairing launching transition from HB.

You get the best available talent & need at the same time.

Would be wrapped to see him slide to us, but he shouldn’t & he probably won’t. But you take him in a heartbeat if he still is.

I think we’ve all just accepted that he won’t make it past the Tigers or Dons - would love for him to slide for all the reasons you point out though

If the poor kid is taken by Essendon then we can describe him as like Houston, but if he slides to us or we trade up then obviously he is Hibberd with an extra 5cm. That's an exciting prospect and I'd love it if some magic happened and we were able to get him.

Yeah, he's a much better option than Lindsay IMO. His kicking is not as attacking, but he can still hit the angle and can actually defend and win 1v1s. Compare Lindsay, who is all handball receive or intercept, with Taylor and it's chalk and cheese IMV. Would suit King's professed game style too.

I'm still in the Grlj and Dovaston double, but if Taylor slipped instead of Grlj then I'd be happy enough with Taylor and Dovaston. I think Grlj has a much higher ceiling, but Taylor looks a solid AFL prospect. A safe bet if you will.

If he gets to us I bet we snap him up in a flash because the coach will pound the table for a guy who plays the most like Tom Stewart that I’ve seen from a junior defender.

5 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

If he gets to us I bet we snap him up in a flash because the coach will pound the table for a guy who plays the most like Tom Stewart that I’ve seen from a junior defender.

That's an interesting comparison.

Would not pass on him if available, I just don't see it.

True competitor.

Scouting Notes 31/10/2025 - Xavier Taylor

Defender

Winning the ball back across half-back is so important in modern football and Taylor does that exceptionally well

Club Eastern Ranges / East Ringwood

State VIC

Height 192cm

DOB 30/01/2007

Intercepting / 1 on 1 Defending / Run & Carry / Footy IQ

A defender whose stocks rose during his national championships campaign for Vic Metro, Taylor stopped plenty of opposition forays forward. He defends well one-on-one, reads the play nicely to get to the right spots and intercept the footy and displayed some desperate defensive actions. A Richmond supporter who looks up to Nathan Broad, Taylor is a task-oriented player. His offensive game was a weakness coming into the year but has improved, which has seen him provide more run and carry on the way out when he does win the ball back. Taylor was particularly impressive in Vic Metro’s last two games of the championships, winning 16 disposals, eight marks (two intercept marks) and five spoils in the final match against Vic Country. He also played some strong football in the Coates Talent League this year, including in a round 7 match where he took on Sydney Swans Academy forward Max King and finished with 24 disposals, 12 marks (four intercepts) and five tackles. Taylor was named in defence in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year and won the best-on-ground medal in the competition’s Grand Final in September. He patrolled the back half and controlled the air in that match, finishing with 25 disposals, 15 marks (four intercept marks) and two spoils. Taylor also impressed at the national draft combine in October, placing third in the agility test with a time of 7.869 sec.

2025 Coates League 106 ranking points, 18.3 disposals, 6.4 marks, 3.4 rebound 50s, 2.7 intercept marks, 7 intercept possessions, 2.5 spoils, 2.8 tackles (17 games) 2025

National Champs 84 ranking points, 15 disposals, 4.5 marks, 3.5 rebound 50s, 1.5 intercept marks, 5.8 intercept possessions, 3.5 spoils, 2 tackles (4 games)

I think I’m on the money with my picks can’t see him going past Richmond

I've read some on here suggest he doesn't play a position of need for us.

I couldn't disagree more. Lock down defender capable of playing on talls and smalls, with an improving offensive game - who on our list fits that mould?

If he's available we'd be mad not to pick him. The list and coaching team would be doing cartwheels.

Just now, Davos said:

I've read some on here suggest he doesn't play a position of need for us.

I couldn't disagree more. Lock down defender capable of playing on talls and smalls, with an improving offensive game - who on our list fits that mould?

If he's available we'd be mad not to pick him. The list and coaching team would be doing cartwheels.

A top 10 pick on Connor Idun 🤮

3 minutes ago, adonski said:

A top 10 pick on Connor Idun 🤮

Are you more likely to win a flag with Connor Idun starting in your team (he's a better prospect than Idun), or with a Brock McLean or some other B- equivalent starting in your midfield (Sharp and Cummings).

It also won't be a top 10 pick.

Edited November 3, 2025Nov 3 by Davos

i just dont think he's any chance at getting to us, for the tigers he's a oerfect broad vlastuin replaement and a more reliable option than ridley in terms of staying on the park and an immediate upgrade on "prior" at essendon. i think we're no chance

i think grjl is the one who could slide as tiges got hotton who can add that zip to their midfield last year

Edited November 4, 2025Nov 4 by Turner

Cal said if he gets to us, we pretty much have to take him,

i'd almost attempt to move up to take him.. most impressive player in my eyes. competitive, hard, skills.

I reckon the most guaranteed player in the draft is Xavier Taylor. I rate him in the best 5 available in this draft. Absolutely looks and plays like a footballer. Smart. Composed. Has Aggression. Excellent judge of a mark. He is a lock for 200 games in my view. Think “Disco Turner” type. If you push him, expect it back two-fold. Whilst he’s not a player we need, he would be a very good addition. In my opinion he simply couldn’t be passed up by the Tigers or the Bombers.

22 hours ago, adonski said:

A top 10 pick on Connor Idun 🤮

A top 10 pick for Tom Stewart???

16 minutes ago, BangBnagBang said:

A top 10 pick for Tom Stewart???

Hes too old to trade that sort of pick for!

22 hours ago, Davos said:

Brock McLean or some other B- equivalent starting in your midfield (Sharp and Cummings).

This is exactly my worry.

Will be gone before our pick unfortunately.

Gun. Realistically probably the best player we could get at 7/8. if he slips.

Snap him up if he slips

Think it relies on Richmond taking Grij and Essendon going for the SA midfield double of Sharp and Cumming

@demoncat I am a huge fan of this young guy. Footy smart. Great mark. Tough. Determined.

Whilst I think he goes early , agreed there’s a very small chance he falls to us … available picks if … 1 Duursma 2 CDT 3 Robey 4 Grlj 5 Sharp 6 Cumming … then Dees 7 X Taylor 8 any of Farrow/Dovaston/J.Lindsay/Nairn