This week eHawkTalk delivers readers a new look at Hawthorn ruckman, former oarsman, Simon Taylor. Catherine Murphy reports.
Simon Taylor has drawn on his experience as a rower, participating in the 1999 and 2000 nationals, to give him an ideal training base for his career as a professional footballer. Back then the Hawks’ ruckman used to rise at 5am to train six mornings a week.
“There’s definitely a lot of discipline required to do that,” Taylor said.
“It gave me a good platform to work from because we trained six days a week for two years. There were days when it was raining or cold and it was tough, but obviously you would be letting all your teammates down if you didn’t get up.”
Despite his years of training in a sport which revolves around upper body strength, the modest Hawk says he doesn’t claim to be the best built footballer at the club.
“Chance Bateman thinks he’s got the best guns. In his mind anyway,” Taylor laughs.
From Campbell Town, in Tasmania, Taylor grew up on a farm, and often helped out his dad with the sheep, cattle and cropping work on their property.
He still goes back there to help out when he can, but these days he’s much too busy with footy to visit very often.
But he isn’t the only Tasmanian at Waverley. Mitchell Thorp and Grant Birchall also hail from the Apple Isle and Taylor says the three boys have a close bond.
“We stick together and don’t take any rubbish from any of the other boys,” Taylor said.
Selected in the 2004 AFL National Draft the young Hawk’s career was fast tracked by an injury to Robert Campbell, which meant Taylor played 17 games in his debut season. He believes that early experience has been crucial to his development as a player.
“It made me adapt a lot quicker and work harder. It made me realise that I had to do a lot of work to get up to the level.”
Last year was less successful for Taylor. A shoulder reconstruction ruined his season and he played only seven games. This year though, the 25-year-old completed a full pre-season and has played every game.
“Playing every week you get used to the level and you get your confidence up. You realise that you fit in.”
Taylor believes this season he’s had the opportunity to prove his critics wrong.
“I’m getting a lot more game time and I’m feeling more comfortable and I can read the game better just from being out there.
“When I first started, I was only playing 20 to 30 minutes a game, and it was quite hard to get into it.
“Maybe that’s why people commented on it [not reading the game well] but I never thought I had a problem with that part of my game. This year I’ve been able to show that.”
As for the club’s finals ambitions, Taylor says Hawthorn’s participation in finals for the first time since 2001 is “just reward” for the hard work put in by the Hawks’ senior players.
“For the younger guys it’s all about giving the older guys the chance to go as deep into the finals as we can.
“We all know how much it means to them and for the club and the supporters… It doesn’t have to be said.
“It’s just one of those unwritten things that you just know. We can’t wait for next year, you’ve just got to seize the moment.”
As for this weekend’s clash with Sydney at the SCG, Taylor says the absence of key personnel such as Barry Hall and Tadhg Kennelly from Sydney’s line up, won’t encourage the Hawks to take the challenge any less seriously.
“There’s no bigger game than playing in Sydney. No matter who they put on the park, you know you have to be at your best. It doesn’t matter about names.
“Sydney are one of those teams, they have 22 players who can all do their job. It doesn’t matter who they put out there.
“It’s an opportunity to play in front of a big crowd in front of some quality opposition. We’ve got to get used to these big games if we’re going to be involved in finals and we’re going to go deep into finals.”
Simon Taylor has drawn on his experience as a rower, participating in the 1999 and 2000 nationals, to give him an ideal training base for his career as a professional footballer. Back then the Hawks’ ruckman used to rise at 5am to train six mornings a week.
“There’s definitely a lot of discipline required to do that,” Taylor said.
“It gave me a good platform to work from because we trained six days a week for two years. There were days when it was raining or cold and it was tough, but obviously you would be letting all your teammates down if you didn’t get up.”
Despite his years of training in a sport which revolves around upper body strength, the modest Hawk says he doesn’t claim to be the best built footballer at the club.
“Chance Bateman thinks he’s got the best guns. In his mind anyway,” Taylor laughs.
From Campbell Town, in Tasmania, Taylor grew up on a farm, and often helped out his dad with the sheep, cattle and cropping work on their property.
He still goes back there to help out when he can, but these days he’s much too busy with footy to visit very often.
But he isn’t the only Tasmanian at Waverley. Mitchell Thorp and Grant Birchall also hail from the Apple Isle and Taylor says the three boys have a close bond.
“We stick together and don’t take any rubbish from any of the other boys,” Taylor said.
Selected in the 2004 AFL National Draft the young Hawk’s career was fast tracked by an injury to Robert Campbell, which meant Taylor played 17 games in his debut season. He believes that early experience has been crucial to his development as a player.
“It made me adapt a lot quicker and work harder. It made me realise that I had to do a lot of work to get up to the level.”
Last year was less successful for Taylor. A shoulder reconstruction ruined his season and he played only seven games. This year though, the 25-year-old completed a full pre-season and has played every game.
“Playing every week you get used to the level and you get your confidence up. You realise that you fit in.”
Taylor believes this season he’s had the opportunity to prove his critics wrong.
“I’m getting a lot more game time and I’m feeling more comfortable and I can read the game better just from being out there.
“When I first started, I was only playing 20 to 30 minutes a game, and it was quite hard to get into it.
“Maybe that’s why people commented on it [not reading the game well] but I never thought I had a problem with that part of my game. This year I’ve been able to show that.”
As for the club’s finals ambitions, Taylor says Hawthorn’s participation in finals for the first time since 2001 is “just reward” for the hard work put in by the Hawks’ senior players.
“For the younger guys it’s all about giving the older guys the chance to go as deep into the finals as we can.
“We all know how much it means to them and for the club and the supporters… It doesn’t have to be said.
“It’s just one of those unwritten things that you just know. We can’t wait for next year, you’ve just got to seize the moment.”
As for this weekend’s clash with Sydney at the SCG, Taylor says the absence of key personnel such as Barry Hall and Tadhg Kennelly from Sydney’s line up, won’t encourage the Hawks to take the challenge any less seriously.
“There’s no bigger game than playing in Sydney. No matter who they put on the park, you know you have to be at your best. It doesn’t matter about names.
“Sydney are one of those teams, they have 22 players who can all do their job. It doesn’t matter who they put out there.
“It’s an opportunity to play in front of a big crowd in front of some quality opposition. We’ve got to get used to these big games if we’re going to be involved in finals and we’re going to go deep into finals.”
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