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Tim: Obviously Garns a great win for the team down at Port Melbourne, their first loss there in three years, how does that rate in the wins you’ve played in so far for North Ballarat?
Taylor: That’s only the second win I’ve been involved in at the Roosters and it’s probably the best of all time in my short career because we came back from 38-points down. It was a big achievement and I always felt like we were in the game and it was amazing to get over the line.
Mason: It was good that you had an impact late in the game kicking the final two goals including the match winner, were you quite happy with yourself after that?
Taylor: Yeah, but it was a team effort though. I very rarely got my hands on the ball in the first half and even in the third quarter so it was good to play a part in getting the boys up in the end.
Tim: You’ve been touted as a ‘lively’ player and you’re clearly an impact player judging from the weekend, could you see yourself being the ideal super-sub player in the future for North Melbourne?
Taylor: At this point, I’d take absolutely any opportunity to play at the top level and it wouldn’t matter what the role was.
Mason: You’ve missed a few goals with the boys at training and you’ve had the shot to put the Roosters in the lead late in the day…how were the nerves at that stage?
Taylor: I took the mark and then I was packing my dacks, a little bit nervous and it was just good to see it go through the middle. Up on the clock, I knew there wasn’t too much longer to go in the game and knew if I kicked it we would be able to hold on because we had so much momentum.
Tim: You’ve been back from your ankle injury now a few weeks, are you starting to get more confidence in your game and increase your fitness levels?
Taylor: I’ve definitely been lacking a bit of match fitness over the last few weeks which is expected I suppose coming off the injury, so I just have to keep persisting and running as much as I can to make sure I can run out games and impact as many contests as possible throughout the day.
Tim: Who do you look up to the most at the club?
Taylor: Being a small forward, there’s always Lindsay Thomas and he’s showing everyone how it’s done lately. I really look up to him and love the way he goes about it.
Mason: Do you find yourself getting more comfortable around the club and among the big names at training and do you think you’ll be better off now slotting into the forward line than you would have been at the start of the year?
Taylor: I’d like to get a few more kicks in the VFL before I even start thinking about playing AFL but you do learn a lot very quickly coming into the system. I was pretty raw when I got here and there’s still so much more to get my head around. But the boys make you feel welcome and I just have to try and prove myself over a long period of time in order to get a spot in the ones.
Shane Watson (fly by interviewer): Do you feel like you’re putting ample pressure on the match committee to select you in the AFL team.
Taylor: I just hope I’m doing all the right things on and off the field to make sure the coaches are all impressed and encouraged. I’ve just got to keep up the consistency, put my body on the line and play for the team and hopefully that’s enough to give me a crack for North down the track and hopefully this year.
Mason: What do you think your greatest attribute is as a small forward?
Taylor: I’ve always liked to think it’s my competitiveness and ability to impact the contest…put my body on the line.
