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.
