Michael Taylor (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael 'Kingo' Taylor is a former Australian rules football
er who played for Collingwood
in the VFL
and also had a noted career with Norwood
in the SANFL
. He also played 13 interstate games for South Australia, which included State of Origin football.
In two stints at Norwood, Taylor won six Best and fairest
awards, a club record he shares with Walter Scott
. Five of them were won before he came to Collingwood, where he was a member of a strong Norwood side which won premierships in 1975 and as captain 1978. The 1978 premiership was his first year as captain and he remained in that role until he joined Collingwood in 1981. He had played as both a defender and centreman while at Norwood and he spent most of his time with Collingwood in defence.
Despite playing just four seasons at Collingwood he managed 92 games, over 20 each year. This tally included the 1981 VFL Grand Final
which they lost to Carlton. He returned to Norwood in 1985 before retiring two years later after 289 SANFL games.
As a coach Taylor has been in charge of Collingwood's reserves team as well as being an assistant at AFL club Adelaide. In 1996 he became coach of West Adelaide
and spent five seasons with the club.
He was inducted, in 2002, into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
and is also a back pocket
in Norwood's official 'Team of the Century'.
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 Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and also had a noted career with Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
in the SANFL
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....
. He also played 13 interstate games for South Australia, which included State of Origin football.
In two stints at Norwood, Taylor won six Best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
awards, a club record he shares with Walter Scott
Walter Scott (footballer)
Walter "Wacka" or "Wat" Scott was a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League in the early 20th century...
. Five of them were won before he came to Collingwood, where he was a member of a strong Norwood side which won premierships in 1975 and as captain 1978. The 1978 premiership was his first year as captain and he remained in that role until he joined Collingwood in 1981. He had played as both a defender and centreman while at Norwood and he spent most of his time with Collingwood in defence.
Despite playing just four seasons at Collingwood he managed 92 games, over 20 each year. This tally included the 1981 VFL Grand Final
1981 VFL Grand Final
The 1981 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Collingwood Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 26 September 1981. It was the 85th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
which they lost to Carlton. He returned to Norwood in 1985 before retiring two years later after 289 SANFL games.
As a coach Taylor has been in charge of Collingwood's reserves team as well as being an assistant at AFL club Adelaide. In 1996 he became coach of 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 spent five seasons with the club.
He was inducted, in 2002, into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
South Australian Football Hall of Fame
The South Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise the players, coaches, umpires, administrators and journalists who had made a significant contribution in the South Australian National Football League...
and is also a back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
in Norwood's official 'Team of the Century'.