A speedster and rebounding defender with traits built for the moddun-game™

While his dazzling speed and wicked foot skills catch the eye, Taylor is touted as a defence first half-back who wins the ball back before flicking the switch into attack mode. He isn’t afraid to venture high up the ground, taking metres and hitting targets on his favoured left side. Taylor can go short and sharp or long and direct, proving a weapon in transition. He averaged 21 disposals across 17 games this season to sit firmly in first round contention.

I'm a fan, projecting to be a late first rounder at this stage. Has speed and agility and most importantly can kick.

SNAPSHOT: “A daring defensive distributor who takes on the game with his raw speed and slick foot skills.” – Michael Alvaro

The term ‘bolter’ and Oskar Taylor go hand-in-hand. An outstanding Coates Talent League campaign alone has seen the speedy Eastern Ranges defender surge into first round contention, despite being overlooked for Vic Metro selection mid-year. Taylor was a consistent figure for the premiers, playing 17 of a possible 19 games and being named among his side’s bests on nine occasions.

For his efforts, Taylor claimed second place in the Ranges’ best and fairest, and is one of a handful of prospect from the region likely to be selected in the top 20 come draft time. It comes on the back of a rather unheralded junior career, where Taylor turned out only five times as a bottom-ager last year having debuted in Round 15. He was a role player, but turned into a genuine star.

An eye-catching type with his daring style on the rebound, Taylor had his potential recognised with a state draft combine invite. That was soon upgraded to a national combine call-up, promoted alongside Eastern teammate and fellow bolter Sullivan Robey. There, Taylor showcased his speed deliver two top-10 results, including the quickest 20m sprint time of 2.823 seconds.

STRENGTHS:

+ Consistency
+ Dare
+ Defensive accountability
+ Kicking
+ Rebounding
+ Speed

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Contested game
- Strength

Taylor has an impressive array of footballing weapons at his disposal. On a skill level, his kicking helps set him apart in what is often considered a dime-a-dozen role across half-back. He is entrusted with kick-in duties and is expansive with ball in hand further afield, able to either drive the ball long or adjust with short, precise passes. Taylor makes lightning-fast decisions and is capable of shifting angles, cutting apart opposition defences.

Combine that nous with his athletic gifts, and Taylor screams 'hurt factor'. Clocking up the fastest 20m sprint (2.823 seconds), and second-fasted agility test (7.84) times at the National Draft Combine, Taylor is among the breed of players who translates those results on-field. His carving and daring runs on the rebound allow him to not only start transitional chains from defence, but also finish them with a kick inside attacking 50.

He often takes off immediately, backing his raw pace to lose opponents. That conviction makes him extremely hard to tackle, dazzling the opposition and putting them on the back foot. Taylor's running power makes him a dangerous playmaker, able to support teammates on the overlap and break lines with constant motion. He also does well to find space ahead of the ball and is a trusted distributor with his sheer variety of disposal.

While most players with Taylor's strengths are flash-in-the-pan types, the Eastern Ranges bolter is far from that. He was consistent as ever across 17 Coates Talent League outings this year, reliably playing his role and worrying the opposition. Taylor also proved defensively accountable, adopting a high line where he could intercept bravely in the air, or compete to win the loose ball. He has attacking instincts, but is defence-first.

Despite being capable in one-on-one battles, improvement will continue to come in Taylor's contested game. He won 72 per cent of his possessions uncontested this season, faring best as a receiver who could do damage on the outside. He's still quite lightly framed and can continue to built strength so as to not be impacted by physical pressure. Greater power will allow him to do even more damage with his run and foot skills, unimpeded.

The nitty-gritty details of Taylor's profile also point towards some refinements to be made in the decision making process. He backs his weapons and aims to exhibit them at each opportunity, but that can sometimes see him run into trouble. Building his game IQ will allow him to make decisions in a more controlled and composed mode, rather than operating in one high gear. Greater exposure to high levels will help develop that trait.

I can see us taking him with one of our first round picks.

Scouting Notes 30/10/2025

"This transformed defender bolted into draft calculations in the second half of the year, catching the eye with his athletic attributes.

Club Eastern Ranges / South Belgrave

State VIC

Height 183cm

DOB 1/8/2007

1 on 1 Defending / Kicking / Run & Carry / Speed

A rebounding defender who rapidly rose up draft boards in the second half of the season, Taylor transformed his game nicely this year. He started the season as more of a role player who had a defensive-first mindset down back, but he added more counter-attack to his game as his confidence grew. While not part of Vic Metro’s squad for the under-18 national championships, Taylor snagged a state combine invite on the back of his form for the Eastern Ranges in the Coates Talent League. He showed himself to be a player who could win one-on-one contests, take intercept marks and break the lines with his speed and nice left-foot kick coming out of the back half. Taylor was also exposed to a few midfield rotations late in the season and was able to impact there as well. He was part of the Ranges’ side which surged to a premiership in September and recorded 21 disposals and six intercept possessions in the Grand Final, during which he aggressively pushed up the ground and worked off opponents well. Taylor received a late call-up to the national draft combine in October and shone brightly, recording the top time in the 20m sprint (2.823 sec) and placing second in the agility test (7.840 sec).

2025 Coates League 97 ranking points, 20.5 disposals, 3.9 marks, 1.1 intercept marks, 5.1 intercept possessions, 3.2 rebound 50s, 0.9 spoils, 2.3 tackles (17 games)."

I like his profile - "defensive first mindset" and his 20m and Agility Combine results. His stats indicate he gets plenty of it.

His highlights look good of course, but a nice mix of kick and handball to create play and use of his speed and agility. Hard to judge his contested game.

He looks more dynamic than Lindsay to me. But I'm a no authority.

He reminds me a lot of Archie Roberts.

4 minutes ago, old55 said:

I like his profile - "defensive first mindset" and his 20m and Agility Combine results. His stats indicate he gets plenty of it.

His highlights look good of course, but a nice mix of kick and handball to create play and use of his speed and agility. Hard to judge his contested game.

He looks more dynamic than Lindsay to me. But I'm a no authority.

Just been watching all his YT clips and interviews. He’s the one I hope we pick at 8. Perfect for that small lockdown role, good speed and kicking to exit defence.

Seems to have heaps of upside which is something JT always likes.

We could possibly slide back slightly to get him and improve our third pick at the same time to get Pickett.

Would allow us to move Bowser up the ground.

5 minutes ago, Colm said:

Just been watching all his YT clips and interviews. He’s the one I hope we pick at 8. Perfect for that small lockdown role, good speed and kicking to exit defence.

Seems to have heaps of upside which is something JT always likes.

We could possibly slide back slightly to get him and improve our third pick at the same time to get Pickett.

Would allow us to move Bowser up the ground.

[censored] yeah been sleeping on this guy.

He's exactly what we need, that's some great drive from the backline, playes similar to Rivers with better disposal.

Huge yes from me.

@adonski I’m pleased to announce that I’m jumping on board the Dovaston and O Taylor train at 7 and 8 (presuming a Robey or X Taylor don’t slide on the night)

The potential midfield options at those picks aren’t doing it for me, so I think it’s better to reach for players who have attributes we need to compliment our young core

If we could also find a way to snag Pickett too we’d have added a huge amount of speed and class in one off season

Edited Thursday at 00:242 days by demoncat

49 minutes ago, old55 said:

I like his profile - "defensive first mindset" and his 20m and Agility Combine results. His stats indicate he gets plenty of it.

His highlights look good of course, but a nice mix of kick and handball to create play and use of his speed and agility. Hard to judge his contested game.

He looks more dynamic than Lindsay to me. But I'm a no authority.

Agree with this and have been saying he's a smokey for us. He looks more dynamic and versatile than Lindsay for mine and really came on as the year progressed. Lindsay is a better pure kick, but Oskar seems to have a better balance for taking the game on with both run and carry, kicking and hand balling forward. Lindsay stops, props, and looks for kick every time.

Oskar was also the fastest over 20m at the combine, and second behind Dovaston for agility, so he's got an incredible athletic profile. Can see us calling him out with one of our two picks for sure. Questions marks over his contested ability, like Lindsay, but seems to have more scope for positional versatility and to fit the model game.

A bit of M. Hibberd/Jack Grimes about his half back work.

Oskar Taylor has to be in the conversations for pick “7&8”. His speed and left foot delivery brings him into the JT discussion

I'd be good with Taylor.

We get so bogged down in drafts about skill, pace, running ability etc. It's never glamourous to talk about a defence first guy but we've needed one for a while.

Lindsay would open up the ground with skill and Taylor can carry and draw defenders to him before getting handball off. Bit of a lightening and thunder duo (even though that doesn't make sense).

1 minute ago, layzie said:

Bit of a lightening and thunder duo

Sounds very, very frightening.

12 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

Sounds very, very frightening.

Thanks Galileo 😊

think i prefer him to lindsay but i think his range is probably hawks onwards as we will be shopping in a different bracket

dont know where he lands as i see him being a fit at hawks, giants, crows, cats and dogs