Don Taylor
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Biographical
- Born: 24 June 1920
- Height: 183 cm
- Weight: 80 Kg
- Recruited from: West Adelaide
- GFC League Debut: 1950
Guernsey Number:
Career
Don Taylor, like his brothers John and Laurie, began his career at West Adelaide and finished it at Glenelg. In between he had two separate stints with South Melbourne in the VFL.
Don Taylor was residentially bound to West Adelaide and he and his brothers were unable to follow their father's lead and play for Port Adelaide. In 1939 all three brothers played for the first time in the same Senior team.
Taylor played with South Melbourne initially while on war service in 1942 when he appeared in five VFL games, two of them finals, including their Preliminary Final loss to Essendon. He returned in 1947 and from mid season was used as a forward and on the ball, kicking at least two goals in each of his final six games. In one of those games, against Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval, he kicked a career best bag of six goals.
As a result of his consistent performances up forward in 1947, Taylor remained there in 1948 and kicked five goals against Richmond in the opening round of the 1948 VFL season. He finished the year in defence, his preferred position while at West Adelaide, and in 1949 returned to South Australia and joined Glenelg, where his brother Johnny had been appointed Coach.
From 1949 he has was chosen in every State side and represented South Australia in nine interstate matches in total during his career. Perhaps his best season was in 1952, when he finished fourth in the Magarey Medal count - won by Len Fitzgerald — and won four Glenelg Club trophies, including best and fairest. Taylor has also been one of this State's most popular players. His hard hitting and determined attitude, backed by irreproachable fairness, won him a legion of admirers. He was recognised in the 1952 'Sporting Life' Team of the Year (the precursor to All Australian teams) as a half back flanker.
Taylor also won Glenelg's Best and Fairest award in 1950 and played the last of his 135 SANFL games in 1954.
His final contribution to South Australian football came in 1965 when he coached West Adelaide for the season. The club however struggled and finished the year in ninth position.
See also
References
1. "Pride of the Bay"
2. Wikipedia
