Don Taylor (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Don Taylor was an Australian rules football
er who played for South Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1940s. He also played with West Adelaide
and Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL).
Like his brothers John and Laurie
, Taylor began his career at West Adelaide and finished it at Glenelg. In between he had two separate stints with South Melbourne, the first 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 defense, his preferred position while at West Adelaide, and in 1949 returned to South Australia and joined Glenelg.
Taylor won Glenelg's 'Best and fairest' award in both 1950 and 1952 before playing the last of his 135 SANFL games in 1954. He was recognised in the 1952 'Sporting Life' Team of the Year
as a half back flanker and represented South Australia in nine interstate matches
during his career.
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.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) during the 1940s. He also played with West Adelaide
West Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
and Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL).
Like his brothers John and Laurie
Laurie Taylor (Australian footballer)
Laurie Taylor was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League in 1944 and in 1947 for the Richmond Football Club....
, Taylor began his career at West Adelaide and finished it at Glenelg. In between he had two separate stints with South Melbourne, the first while on war service in 1942 when he appeared in five VFL games, two of them finals, including their Preliminary Final loss to Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. 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
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
at Glenferrie Oval
Glenferrie Oval
Glenferrie Oval is an Australian rules football stadium located in Hawthorn, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.It is the historic home of and is synonymous with the Hawthorn Football Club, who played there from 1903 and as a VFL/AFL club from 1925–1973, and retained the ground as an...
, 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
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in the opening round of the 1948 VFL season
1948 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1948.-Premiership season:In 1947, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
. He finished the year in defense, his preferred position while at West Adelaide, and in 1949 returned to South Australia and joined Glenelg.
Taylor won Glenelg's 'Best and fairest' award in both 1950 and 1952 before playing the last of his 135 SANFL games in 1954. He was recognised in the 1952 'Sporting Life' Team of the Year
All-Australian Team
The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
as a half back flanker and represented South Australia in nine interstate matches
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
during his career.
His final contribution to South Australian football
Australian rules football in South Australia
Australian rules football in South Australia has a history dating back to 1843, and it has long been the most popular sport in the state.-History:see South Australian National Football League for a more detailed history of the SANFL competition...
came in 1965 when he coached West Adelaide for the season. The club however struggled and finished the year in ninth position.