Saints sure to show swingman Taylor plenty of respect

GEELONG’S Harry Taylor experiment is yet to produce a single goal but that doesn’t mean St Kilda will be taking him lightly.

The two-time All-Australian defender has played mainly as a key forward this season as the unbeaten Cats look to better capitalise on their inside-50s.

After nine seasons down back, Taylor has likened the change to fumbling in the dark in an unfamiliar room.

St Kilda are nonetheless preparing to give him plenty of attention in today’s AFL clash at Etihad Stadium, with Jake Carlisle and Nathan Brown the most likely match-ups.

“Whether he plays back or he plays forward, clearly he’s a quality player that needs a quality player to play on him,” Saints defensive coach Rohan Welsh said. “We feel if he plays up forward, then we’ve got some players who can match up really well against him. Probably a Carlisle or a Brown matches up OK.

“The most pleasing thing for our backline group is we’re pretty versatile.

“We’ve got (Sam) Gilbert as well as ( Dylan) Roberton that can play tall, so from that regard we feel like we can match him up pretty well when he’s forward.”

Former Geelong star Cameron Mooney believes it’s no coincidence that Tom Hawkins (16 goals) is equal-first in the Coleman Medal tally, with Taylor taking some heat away from the spearhead.

Mooney said Taylor’s presence in the forward line has allowed Hawkins to create more one-on-ones inside 50. But coach Chris Scott hasn’t been afraid to swing Taylor into the backline when necessary, forcing opposition teams to prepare contingencies.

“He reads the cues really well, he’s a good overhead mark and he sets them up from there as well,” Welsh said.

“We know that wherever he plays, whether it’s forward or back, we need to have a bit of awareness of who’s on him.”