Laurie Taylor (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Laurie Taylor was an Australian rules football
er who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1944 and in 1947 for the Richmond Football Club
.
Taylor was 6'2", an inch taller than Jack Dyer
and was a well-built centre-half forward, renowned for his strong marking.
in Borneo during World War II
.
and Taylor was playing in the ruck. At the first bounce, Taylor punched the ball an amazing 40 yd (37 m) and, at the same time, dislocated his shoulder.
His family were also steeped in football.
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 in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1944 and in 1947 for the Richmond Football Club
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,...
.
Taylor was 6'2", an inch taller than Jack Dyer
Jack Dyer
John Raymond Dyer Sr. OAM , always known as Jack Dyer, was one of the colossal figures of Australian rules football during two distinct careers, firstly as a player and coach of the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1931 and 1952, and later in the broadcast media for...
and was a well-built centre-half forward, renowned for his strong marking.
War service
He served with the 2nd AIFSecond Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
in Borneo during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Shoulder dislocation
On 17 May 1947, in the first match that Taylor played after his discharge from the A.I.F., Richmond was playing HawthornHawthorn 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...
and Taylor was playing in the ruck. At the first bounce, Taylor punched the ball an amazing 40 yd (37 m) and, at the same time, dislocated his shoulder.
The Taylor football family
Laurie's record as a player and as a coach is impressive:- 1936–1937, West AdelaideWest Adelaide Football ClubWest 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...
Juniors - 1937–1941, 1946, West Adelaide 44 games (127 goals)
- 1944, West Adelaide/Genelg: 1 game (1 goal)
- South Australian Interstate Team: 5 games (7 goals)
- 1944, 1947, Richmond: 20 games (48 goals, including five 5-goal matches)
- 1948–1949, CorowaCorowa Football ClubThe Corowa Football Club were an Australian rules football club which competed in the Ovens & Murray Football League.The club was based in Corowa, New South Wales.Famous footballers who played for the club include Fred Swift, Peter Chisnall and John Hoiles....
, captain-coach. Also represented New South Wales in interstate football. - 1950, 1952, Glenelg: 28 games (60 goals)
- 1951, Coolamon, captain-coach of premiership side.
- 1953, 1954, Narracorte, captain-coach, one premiership.
- 1955–1956, West Gambier, Captain-coach
His family were also steeped in football.
- John Taylor Sr., his father, played 56 games with SANFLSouth Australian National Football LeagueThe 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....
club Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
including their 1914 team which was unbeaten for the entire season. - John Taylor Jr., his brother, played 258 games for SANFL clubs West AdelaideWest Adelaide Football ClubWest 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 as both player and as captain-coach. He played for South Australia five times. He was the first SANFL player to play 250 games. - Don TaylorDon Taylor (footballer)Don Taylor was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League during the 1940s. He also played with West Adelaide and Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League ....
, his other brother, played 20 senior games for South MelbourneSydney SwansThe 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 1942 and 1947. On 30 August 1947, in round 19, South Melbourne played Richmond at the Punt Road Oval; Laurie Taylor was the Richmond full-forward, and Don Taylor was the South Melbourne full-forward. Laurie Taylor kicked 5 goals for Richmond, and was one of the best on the ground, whilst Don kicked two goals for South Melbourne. He also played 136 senior games for West Adelaide and Glenelg between 1939 and 1954. He played for South Australia nine times. He also coached West Adelaide in 1965.