Cat Harry Taylor marks in front of Bulldog Jordan Roughead. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun
IS there a more versatile footballer in the game right now than Geelong's revolving key-position player Harry Taylor?
Defender by trade; forward by opportunity or circumstance.
Wherever he plays, he is damn hard to stop at the moment and looms as a critical jigsaw puzzle in the Cats' flag hopes.
The circumstance last night was the late withdrawal of last year's best-and-fairest winner Tom Hawkins.
The opportunity was to play deep in attack and Taylor lived up to his end of the bargain, kicking a game-high five goals.
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Sports betting agencies knew as soon as they heard Hawkins was not going to play that the man to shorten in terms of the most goals kicked on the night would be the 26-year-old, two-time premiership defender.
He started second favourite in those markets (at $4) behind teammate James Podsiadly and was clearly the dominant forward on the ground last night.
Only Bulldog Liam Jones threatened to unseat him as the biggest goalscorer of the night, finishing with four goals. In the air Taylor was almost unstoppable; on the lead he was powerful and sure of hand; and in front of goal he rarely looked like missing.
Before this season, Taylor had only kicked 23 goals, including 15 last year. But the Cats have lived up to the pre-season promise of using him in attack as much as defence this year, and last night it proved the difference.
After two goals against Carlton and Sydney in Rounds 3 and 4, Taylor made it a tough night for Bulldog backman Jordan Roughead.
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Taylor booted one goal in the opening term, another in the second and three crucial goals in a big third term.
Just to highlight his importance - and his versatility - he took himself into defence during the last quarter as the Bulldogs threatened to make it a real contest.
Roughead went forward for the Bulldogs and took a big mark and finished with a goal of his own.
Taylor took one of his own big grabs deep in defence late in the final term - showing just how important he is at both ends. And that's why he looms as a wildcard forward-back option that will scare plenty of teams for the rest of the season.
And why Geelong must claim his signature on a long-term contract as soon as it possibly can.
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