Zac Taylor (Australian footballer)

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Zac Taylor
Personal information
Full name Zac Taylor
Nickname(s) Milk
Date of birth (2003-01-31) 31 January 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Victoria, Australia
Original team(s) Calder Cannons (Talent League), Oak Park (Vic), Penola Catholic College (Vic)
Draft No. 44, 2021 national draft
Debut Round 16, 2024, Adelaide  vs. Greater Western Sydney, at Adelaide Oval
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Adelaide
Number 19
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
2024– Adelaide 2 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 17, 2024.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Zac Taylor (born 31 January 2003) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Taylor was selected with the 44th pick in the 2021 national draft. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Taylor played for Oak Park Football Club in Melbourne as a junior player, and was invited to play for the Calder Cannons in the Talent League. Taylor represented Vic Metro in the as an under-18 player, and briefly played matches for Essendon's VFL side. In 2021, Taylor won the best-and-fairest award at Calder as a contested midfielder. [3]

Taylor was drafted at pick 44, in the third round of the 2021 national draft to Adelaide. To his surprise, he was drafted alongside Jake Soligo, with whom he had struck a friendship during their time playing for Vic Metro. [2]

AFL career

Taylor had a prolific period of form playing for Adelaide's reserve team in the SANFL, interrupted in his second year by a long-term foot injury. [4] Early in the 2024 season, Taylor appeared to seriously injury his knee, [5] but the injury was not as severe as initially expected.

Following a late injury to backman Chayce Jones, it was announced that Taylor would make his long-awaited debut in round 16 of 2024. As the tactical substitute, he replaced Brayden Cook and amassed four disposals in the final quarter of the win against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval. [6] It was the first time that all of Adelaide's 2021-drafted players had played together – Taylor, Soligo, Josh Rachele, and pre-season draftee Luke Nankervis. Taylor was the sub again the following week, but made his first full appearance in round 18 against St Kilda. Taylor was named one of Adelaide's best on that night, with 8 tackles, 8 clearances, and 12 contested possessions. [7]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 18, 2024 [8]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals  
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds  
  H  
 Handballs  
  M  
 Marks
SeasonTeamNo.GamesTotalsAverages (per game) Votes
GBKHDMTGBKHDMT
2022 Adelaide 190––––––––––––––0
2023 Adelaide 190––––––––––––––0
2024 Adelaide 19303161228480.01.05.334.09.331.332.67TBC
Career303161228480.01.05.334.09.331.332.670

Personal life

Taylor has two brothers, the elder of which he would have played junior football with if not for a collarbone injury in the pair's first game together at Oak Park. [3]

Taylor currently lives in Adelaide with Daniel Curtin and Hugh Bond, [6] who both also made their debuts in 2024.

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References

  1. ↑ "Pick 44: Zac Taylor". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club. 25 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Harvey, Daniela (26 November 2021). ""It's pretty unreal": Good mates ready to fly into Crows nest". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club.
  3. 1 2 Beveridge, Riley (30 October 2021). "Why Cannons' B&F winner with high footy IQ is Taylor-made for AFL". afl.com.au. AFL.
  4. ↑ Standish, Zac (10 July 2023). "Rehabilitation period a "blessing in disguise" for Zac Taylor". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club.
  5. ↑ Reid, Harrison (29 May 2024). "Adelaide Crows youngster Zac Taylor suffers suspected knee injury during AFL training". 7news.com.au. Seven News.
  6. 1 2 Harvey, Daniela (30 June 2024). "Taylor's whirlwind call-up". afc.com.au. Adelaide Football Club.
  7. ↑ Kimber, Howard (13 July 2024). "Crows prove too good for Saints in the wet". afl.com.au. Australian Football League . Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "Zac Taylor". AFLTables. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
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