Zane Taylor (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Zane Taylor is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Geelong
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the early 1980s. He spent time as a forward and midfielder during his career but it was as a half back flanker that he made the official "Queensland Team of the Century" in 2003.
Although he had only just turned 23 when he started out at Geelong in 1980, Taylor was already a multiple "Best and Fairest" winner for Southport. He was suspended after his debut, for two games, having been found guilty of striking South Melbourne's
Michael Wright
with a clenched first. The suspension was costly as he was out of the seniors for seven weeks but when he returned he became a regular member of the team for the rest of the season. He played just six games in 1981 but appeared in a preliminary final, his second in two years.
Taylor returned to Southport during the 1983 season and finished equal first in voting for the Grogan Medal
, but was ineligible due to suspension. He however won the award in 1985 and would go on to captain Southport to three premierships. His 26 interstate appearance for Queensland is a record and the medal given to the best player for the state in interstate matches is now named after him.
He enjoyed considerable team success over the course of his career, playing in 16 grand final
s in a 16 year period from 1975 to 1990. The sequence started with four premierships at Southport, while they were in the Gold Coast league. He then played in three successive premierships with the Geelong reserves team from 1980 to 1982, contributing six goals to their 1981 grand final win. In the 1984 season, Southport didn't make the grand final, but Taylor had played in two grand finals in 1978, after getting a permit to appear for Windsor-Zillmere
in the QAFL
premiership decider. A grand final every year from 1985 to 1990, of which Southport lost only once, meant that he averaged a grand final a year during that period.
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 with Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
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 early 1980s. He spent time as a forward and midfielder during his career but it was as a half back flanker that he made the official "Queensland Team of the Century" in 2003.
Although he had only just turned 23 when he started out at Geelong in 1980, Taylor was already a multiple "Best and Fairest" winner for Southport. He was suspended after his debut, for two games, having been found guilty of striking South Melbourne's
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...
Michael Wright
Michael Wright (Australian footballer)
Michael Wright is a former Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
with a clenched first. The suspension was costly as he was out of the seniors for seven weeks but when he returned he became a regular member of the team for the rest of the season. He played just six games in 1981 but appeared in a preliminary final, his second in two years.
Taylor returned to Southport during the 1983 season and finished equal first in voting for the Grogan Medal
Grogan Medal
The Grogan Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the best and fairest player in home and away rounds of each season's QAFL/Queensland State League competition. It was first awarded in 1946, previously the league's best player won the De Little Medal.-Winners:-External links:*...
, but was ineligible due to suspension. He however won the award in 1985 and would go on to captain Southport to three premierships. His 26 interstate appearance for Queensland is a record and the medal given to the best player for the state in interstate matches is now named after him.
He enjoyed considerable team success over the course of his career, playing in 16 grand final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
s in a 16 year period from 1975 to 1990. The sequence started with four premierships at Southport, while they were in the Gold Coast league. He then played in three successive premierships with the Geelong reserves team from 1980 to 1982, contributing six goals to their 1981 grand final win. In the 1984 season, Southport didn't make the grand final, but Taylor had played in two grand finals in 1978, after getting a permit to appear for Windsor-Zillmere
Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club
Zillmere Eagles Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football clubs which once competed in the AFL Queensland State League competition. The club is based in the suburb of Zillmere in the northern suburbs of Brisbane...
in the QAFL
Queensland Australian Football League
The Queensland Australian Football League was an Australian rules football competition for clubs from South East Queensland.Up until 2010, the QAFL was the premier semi-professional competition in Queensland, with salary cap rules and regulations in place.It was previously known as the Queensland...
premiership decider. A grand final every year from 1985 to 1990, of which Southport lost only once, meant that he averaged a grand final a year during that period.