Player Watch #3 Taylor Adams

[Ticky009]

Player Profile:

Drafted by GWS with Pick 13 in the 2011 National Draft, Taylor Adams

3

Taylor Adams

Age

31

Ht

181cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.9

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

11.4

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

4.8

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

20.4

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

5.9

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

18.2

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

7.2

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

3.0

5star

CL

2.2

4star

made his AFL debut in Round 5 of the 2012 season. After 31 games with the Giants the midfielder moved to Collingwood where he went on to play 10 seasons and five finals campaign for the Magpies. He joins the Sydney Swans with a wealth of experience including a Grand Final appearance in 2018. In 2020 he was named the club’s Best and Fairest and selected in the All-Australian team.


DOB: 20 Sep 1993
Draft: 2011
RECRUITED FROM: Collingwood

 

[The King!]

Just start him in the guts next year and none of this bullshit half forward half bench shit and he either plays well or plays VFL.

We need someone in and under and the way we used him was odd.

 

[SSwans2011]

Just start him in the guts next year and none of this bullshit half forward half bench shit and he either plays well or plays VFL.

We need someone in and under and the way we used him was odd.

Like I said in the moving forward thread, I think next year the coaches need to acknowledge that there wasn't a single player in the 23 on Saturday that was suited to covering Rowbottom when he needed a spell.

Adams and perhaps Sheldrick would be suited to that next year. Perhaps Cleary if he puts on some size.

There needs to be one of the aforementioned at every centre bounce next year.

 

[KingV23]

We need someone that can go in and play Rowbottom's role when he needs a spell, and I don't think we had that in the finals.

At the moment I think Adams, Sheldrick and Cleary are the best candidates for that role on the list. There's probably a spot for 2 of them (or 1 + Wicks) in our best 22 next year.

I also think people, myself included, underrated the importance of Adams' work off the ball at stoppages. He set-up Warner, Heeney and Gulden with his blocks quite often this season, and we didn't have anyone that was doing that effectively in finals.

I would even add Roberts to that list. I think he would excel as a midfielder.

 

[SSwans2011]

I would even add Roberts to that list. I think he would excel as a midfielder.

I think Roberts has a role to play in there, I'm just not sure he can play the accountable role Rowy and Adams play.

He's shown he can rack up possessions, but he was exposed at times when required to defend. I'd probably look at him as a rotation for that inside-outside role Heeney plays, along with Campbell.

 

[KingV23]

I think Roberts has a role to play in there, I'm just not sure he can play the accountable role Rowy and Adams play.

He's shown he can rack up possessions, but he was exposed at times when required to defend. I'd probably look at him as a rotation for that inside-outside role Heeney plays, along with Campbell.

True. Possibly why he is playing in defence right now - to work on that defensive side to his game. Looking like he is going down the same route as Mills.

 

[Nool Carpenna]

I don't think he is important at all. The club, whose decision-making just led to a third GF pantsing among four successive losses, certainly doesn't think so. Not even an emergency for the finals!

Fixed that for ya.

Probably not the best time to be using the club for affirmation of beliefs.

 

[Nool Carpenna]

Interesting question about Adams. Could he become the de facto midfield coach? Two years to go, a very expensive VFL player but perhaps he might enjoy a value adding role to prepare for coaching after retirement.

Didn't want to lead Coxy's thread off topic so thought I'd respond here.

I haven't given up on Adams making a contribution to our top team. Yeah, he is getting on I don't think there is much to go on that suggests he's past it. Some will point at his limited TOG last year as an indicator of that but I don't recall any actual physical signs that he was struggling physically.

Seemed unrestricted returning from his early season knee injury but by that time, Horse was smitten by his dazzling, shiny new midfield combo of Heeney, Warner and Rowbottom.

Don't think he was ever given a decent crack at it from that point, just covering for blokes as they went for breathers, and token time up forward where he clearly has less value, but certainly not a lot of opportunity to build cohesion and understanding with the other midfielders.

Think that most here, listening to that Cox interview, have failed to pick-up on the fact that, as well as mentioning pressure, and particularly forward pressure, he also specifically mentioned the contest.

Heeney and Warner together in the middle might make for some wonderful highlight reels, but are they capable of dominating a contest over four quarters? Is that the reason we seemed unable to stem the flow once teams began to work us out? Will Cox persist with that combo and try to instil in them a greater commitment to the contest?

Heeney is a wonderful player but I'm not sure he has the footballing instincts to ever match other senior midfielders like Neale, Pendlebury, Cotchin, Selwood and Shuey that have lead teams to premiership glory in recent years. Warner? Yeah, nah. Rowy still a couple of years shy of potentially reaching those heights. Bringing in Sheldrick only adds to the dilemma in the short term.

Adams, provided he remains fit, is clearly the answer to all our woes. Just my opinion of course.

 

[melbournehammer]

Didn't want to lead Coxy's thread off topic so thought I'd respond here.

I haven't given up on Adams making a contribution to our top team. Yeah, he is getting on I don't think there is much to go on that suggests he's past it. Some will point at his limited TOG last year as an indicator of that but I don't recall any actual physical signs that he was struggling physically.

Seemed unrestricted returning from his early season knee injury but by that time, Horse was smitten by his dazzling, shiny new midfield combo of Heeney, Warner and Rowbottom.

Don't think he was ever given a decent crack at it from that point, just covering for blokes as they went for breathers, and token time up forward where he clearly has less value, but certainly not a lot of opportunity to build cohesion and understanding with the other midfielders.

Think that most here, listening to that Cox interview, have failed to pick-up on the fact that, as well as mentioning pressure, and particularly forward pressure, he also specifically mentioned the contest.

Heeney and Warner together in the middle might make for some wonderful highlight reels, but are they capable of dominating a contest over four quarters? Is that the reason we seemed unable to stem the flow once teams began to work us out? Will Cox persist with that combo and try to instil in them a greater commitment to the contest?

Heeney is a wonderful player but I'm not sure he has the footballing instincts to ever match other senior midfielders like Neale, Pendlebury, Cotchin, Selwood and Shuey that have lead teams to premiership glory in recent years. Warner? Yeah, nah. Rowy still a couple of years shy of potentially reaching those heights. Bringing in Sheldrick only adds to the dilemma in the short term.

Adams, provided he remains fit, is clearly the answer to all our woes. Just my opinion of course.

My fear with him is that like peter everitt he arrived at the club two years too late.

we needed someone lined up to replace kennedy in 2021/2022. he arrived in 2024 a year or maybe two too old. would have been great in 2022, I'm just not convinced that his best footy that he can produce in 2025 (as opposed to 2018) improves us much

 

[Wheresbuddy]

I never understood his signing at the time. Had already been moved out of the Pies on ball group. We already had Parker, Mills, Rowie and Chad there along with Sheldrick and Cleary emerging. Then Heeney exploding as an on baller just complicated things even further. This was most evident in that we couldn't find him an on ball spot, even with Mills injured and Parker in the VFL / suspended / playing forward.

Moving into season 2025, I still struggle to see where he fits as I have him as our 7th inside mid if all are fit along with the fact we need to get more speed in our front half.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

He’s a good half-forward.

He’s just an OK-ish mid.

The Pies knew it, but we seemingly don’t.

 

[RainMachine]

He’s a good half-forward.

He’s just an OK-ish mid.

The Pies knew it, but we seemingly don’t.

I think it's the opposite tbh, but Pies just had better options in the mids and wanted to fit him in.

Echoing where'sbuddy's post, not counting on him being our contested panacea this season. Hopefully, this player called Gus (not sure if you've heard of him...) fills this gap in our B22.

 

[The King!]

He is underrated on here , he is an All Australian Mid at his best, he didn't smash it of course but we also gave him limited opportunities.

 

[SSwans2011]

He is underrated on here , he is an All Australian Mid at his best, he didn't smash it of course but we also gave him limited opportunities.

He was very important coming into the midfield early to halt opposition momentum around the middle of the season while our form was still good.

 

[caesar88]

I like Adams. There are obviously flaws, mainly his ball use. But he showed he could still be useful, when given the chance.

Adams had just four games with 40% or more CBAs all year. Three of them were very good:

Round 7 vs Gold Coast - 11 contested possessions & 6 tackles, against a very good contested midfield in the Suns.

Round 14 vs Adelaide - 22 disposals, 11 contested, 5 tackles and 2 goals to go with it.

Round 19 vs Brisbane - the best defensive job we'd been able to manage on Lachie Neale in years, with 20 disposals and a goal as well.

These are hardly the types of performances we can afford to turn our noses up at. They're the sort we need more of in the midfield - big on the contested & defensive side.

Perhaps the reason we didn't see it much is because we didn't give him much of a chance. Play a guy who obviously does his best work in the contest out on a flank and yeah, his impact will probably waver.

Adams' problem is that now Mills is potentially looking at a return to the midfield, and as Adams moves further away from his prime, a mid like Sheldrick moves closer towards his. Competition for his particular spot will be tight. He's gonna have to give it everything he's got, and then some.

 

[Punts]

Age is against him unfortunately

 

[Punts]

Just like most talked about that on Parker

I thing with Parker was he can play forward where Adams is let’s be real pretty shocking

 

[Punts]

I think Gus will get a game before him

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Adams' problem is that now Mills is potentially looking at a return to the midfield, and as Adams moves further away from his prime, a mid like Sheldrick moves closer towards his. Competition for his particular spot will be tight. He's gonna have to give it everything he's got, and then some.

Your last paragraph is right on the money. If we play Adams, it has to be because he is playing better than Sheldrick and Cleary. If he could get back to Adams circa 2020, that would help our team immensely.

 

[tombomb]

The opportunity for Taylor (and us) was last year. Manage him quietly during the year and then have him flying for the finals.

Unfortunately, we took a different approach. Gas him during the year and then not play him in finals.

I remember the Bulldogs game mid year, he had a set shot at goal from about 35m and didn't make the distance. That should have been a sign that we needed to back right off and rest him a lot in the second half of the year. Instead, he played every game until he was dropped for the finals.

Who knows what happens this year?! He will be a year older and a year slower.

One thing I know is we still need his type of player with his toughness and clean hands in tight. And, when he plays, he has a great finals record. Something not many of our players have.

So I would still go into next year looking at him as someone that you just keep fresh for the backend of the season.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

He is underrated on here , he is an All Australian Mid at his best, he didn't smash it of course but we also gave him limited opportunities.

I think the opposite.

It’s tempting to believe we have the 2018 Taylor Adams, who was an outstanding player.

But 2025 Taylor Adams is in his 30’s, far more injury-affected & hasn’t found anything like his old form in several years.

 

[McGowan3]

I never understood his signing at the time. Had already been moved out of the Pies on ball group. We already had Parker, Mills, Rowie and Chad there along with Sheldrick and Cleary emerging. Then Heeney exploding as an on baller just complicated things even further. This was most evident in that we couldn't find him an on ball spot, even with Mills injured and Parker in the VFL / suspended / playing forward.

Moving into season 2025, I still struggle to see where he fits as I have him as our 7th inside mid if all are fit along with the fact we need to get more speed in our front half.

We had such a horror run with injuries in 2022 that the club probably couldn't resist signing him.

 

[McGowan3]

Meant 2023

 

[Kiama Chris]

We had such a horror run with injuries in 2022 that the club probably couldn't resist signing him.

That and he was essentially free. A mate of Grundy's. Had been a top flight mid.
Easy to understand but in hindsight, probably a mistake. Would we have kept someone we delisted (Rankin or Sheather)? Drafted another mid?
Sliding doors.

 

[The King!]

I think the opposite.

It’s tempting to believe we have the 2018 Taylor Adams, who was an outstanding player.

But 2025 Taylor Adams is in his 30’s, far more injury-affected & hasn’t found anything like his old form in several years.

All Australian 2020 had an outstanding 2021 and 22.

2023 was pretty good too until he got hurt , so isn't far off his most recent good form.

Can't defend last year and maybe he is stuffed, just think we chuck him in the middle (even if VFL to start) and go full peg in his best spot

 

[caesar88]

I am a sucker for a pre-season battle for spots, so if Adams and Sheldrick can stay fit and be thereabouts in January/February, that'll be fascinating to see.