Xavier Taylor has been “consistently linked with” a Victorian powerhouse come next Wednesday night’s AFL draft, following a rapid ascent up club boards this year.
But while there’s a triple premiership player at that club he’s drawn an apt comparison to, there’ll be a couple of other keen sides ready and waiting to pounce.
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Richmond looms as perhaps Taylor’s likeliest destination when names are read out on November 19; almost certainly a top-10 pick as the premier defender of this year’s open pool.
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The East Ringwood product, along with Eastern Ranges teammate Sullivan Robey and Oakleigh Chargers speedster Sam Grlj, are the three open-pool players “consistently linked with Richmond”, according to Fox Footy draft expert Ben Waterworth.
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Taylor had a stellar season for Ranges that saw him rocket into early-first-round calculations, averaging 18.3 disposals and 6.4 marks across 17 games.
The 18-year-old was just as impressive while representing Victoria Metro, exhibiting his one-on-one ability and defensive positioning, as well as his improved offensive game late in the carnival.
“He should be a no-brainer (first-round pick),” Ranges teammate and fellow likely top-10 pick Robey told Foxfooty.com.au at the Draft Combine.
“He’s a very competitive player, and he’s got a lot of skill sets. I think he’d thrive at any AFL club and really succeed.”
Headlining Taylor’s eye-opening campaign this year was a best-on-ground performance in Eastern Ranges’ 15-point Coates Talent League grand final win over the Sandringham Dragons.
Taylor, a capable distributor across half-back who also controls the airways at 191 centimetres, posted 25 disposals and 15 marks at Ikon Park to propel his side to silverware.
“It was pretty handy,” Robey said of Taylor’s dazzling effort in the big dance.
“His intercepts and marks and the rebound-50s he had were really impressive, and I think that’s what got us over the line.”
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Taylor “wasn’t on the radar” last year like he was this year, averaging 13.3 disposals and 4.9 marks in 15 games in his bottom-age Ranges campaign.
But he came on this year as a willing interceptor and daring counter-attacker, and now, outside of the Carlton-tied Harry Dean, there isn’t a better back-six prospect on the board.
“I’m so proud of him. He’s my best mate. The last 18 months, ever since (we were) under-16s, we’ve been so close,” fellow Eastern Ranges teammate Lachy Dovaston told Foxfooty.com.au at the Draft Combine.
“Just to see his hard work — last year I thought was really good, but (he) just wasn’t on the radar as much.
“But you just saw how hard he worked in the off-season — the amount of stuff we did together, like running and ball stuff, he really worked on his kicking.
“He worked so hard and deserved it. I’m not surprised at all that now he’s in the top-10 mix.”
Taylor, a childhood Richmond fan, has drawn a befitting comparison to triple premiership Tigers defender Nathan Broad, given his flexibility to be able to play on taller and smaller forwards.
“I think he says that because he goes for Richmond, but I think it’s fair,” Dovaston said.
But there’s also an undeniable aspect of flair in Taylor’s game that not even Broad’s boasted at AFL level, seeing him also compared to the likes of electrifying Hawk Josh Weddle due to his counterpunch ability.
“I think he’d like to say Josh Weddle as well. He tries to practice the bounce and taking (the footy) in one arm,” Dovaston continued.
“It’s not like he can’t only play one position; he can play multiple positions. Even in the backline, he can play tall or small, so I think he’s his own player as well.”
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It’s little surprise that Richmond — armed with Picks 3 and 4 — is heavily considering Taylor, given the aforementioned Broad and fellow triple flag-winner Nick Vlastuin are nearing the ends of their decorated careers.
Theoretically, Taylor would form a tantalising long-term tandem with fellow mid-sized backman Tom Brown, with key defenders Ben Miller and Josh Gibcus in place for the foreseeable future, and Noah Balta playing a swingman role.
But recruiting boss Rhy Gieschen and the Tigers will also strongly weigh up taking forward-half weapon Robey and the pacy Grlj, with the latter hypothetically forging a line-breaking partnership with half-backer Sam Banks.
And if Taylor slips past Richmond, Melbourne — Picks 5 and 6 — and Essendon — 7 and 8 — will be waiting with anticipation.
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Waterworth said that “most would be shocked if Richmond overlooked Taylor”, but it’s also tough to overlook centre-forward dynamos and damaging counterpunch players in the modern game.
The Demons lost Judd McVee — a similar sort of player — to Fremantle in this year’s trade period and are prioritising youth in their backline under first-year senior coach Steven King. Taylor seems a snug fit.
Meanwhile, the Bombers have had more than a few defensive issues of their own through recent seasons and should be targeting a player exactly of Taylor’s ilk.
But whether it’s Tigerland or elsewhere, it’d be a sure surprise if Taylor slipped outside the top 10 picks.
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