Traded Lewis Taylor (2013-2019)

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Team of the Week; R15

Interchange - LEWIS TAYLOR (Brisbane Lions): In a game that was sloppy at times, the zippy Lion's ball use stood out in what was one of the best games of his career. Had three goal assists.

 

[jackess]

Great article on Squizzy. Along with NRobbo he's probably been one of the big improvers this season.

http://www.lions.com.au/news/2017-07-07/squizzys-improvement

Lewis Taylor has taken two bounces, sidestepped a would-be tackler, and is streaming towards goal just 40m out.

He is on a slight angle but has every right to kick for goal.

Rather, the diminutive Brisbane Lion looks a little lower and spots teammate Tom Cutler on his own just 15m from goal. Cutler does the rest.

If one play summed up Taylor's dramatic improvement in 2017, it was this one against Essendon on Sunday.

And it's far from an isolated incident.

Taylor followed up his 2014 Rising Star victory with two inconsistent seasons, but playing with a clearer head and more license to use his skills, has blossomed again this year.

"I'm just a bit more consistent," Taylor said.

"I want to try and hurt the opposition as much as I can when I have the ball.

"I'm into my fourth year now and the older you get, the more you see in the game … the easier it's going to get.

"The game is slowing down, which is good."

Numbers alone tell a story.

With 13 goal assists – three against the Bombers – Taylor is ranked 10th in the competition.

He is not only playing unselfish football, but has the vision to match.

He is now averaging 302m gained a game, up from 184m last year.

Playing primarily as a half-forward, the 22-year-old is also up in disposals (19 from 15), contested possessions (5.5 from four), tackles (three from two) and has still managed to kick 12 goals through 14 games.

He is now playing on instinct, something coach Chris Fagan has encouraged since his first day in the job.

In previous years it wasn't unusual to see Taylor running in circles to avoid tackles, chipping the ball backwards, and generally being unsure of himself.

Now, as his forward line coach Jed Adcock explains, that's changed.

"Our game is simplified," Adcock said.

"We play a natural brand of footy that allows players to put their own mark on the way we play, and I think that suits him.

"Kids get drafted on backing themselves in and using their instincts ... we're trying to bring that out of them.

"At the same time they need to play to a gameplan of course, and Lewy's found that balance probably better than most.

"It's just keeping the gameplan simple. We won't change it. It's seeing what's in front of you and taking the option that's right."

Taylor said Fagan's implementation of more decision-making drills had also helped – he's now taking the easy option, and doing it quickly.

"From day one this pre-season we felt like we were improving," he said.

"The positivity of the coach and his staff has been big in that.

"You can see we're on the right track and there's a fair few stats to back that up.

"You have to put the work in and when we keep gelling and improving, we'll win more than we lose."

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

"From day one this pre-season we felt like we were improving," he said.
An accolade for Fages but at the same time an indictment on what went before.

 

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Post-Match: Lewis Taylor

 

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Taylor splits defence and kicks goal

 

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FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT ABOUT THE LIONS

5. Lewis Taylor could lay a claim to being the most improved player under Chris Fagan. Although he was the Rising Star winner in 2014, his last two years have been underwhelming. This year he has taken his game to a new level.

 

[iBeng]

Would have to be a tie between him and Walker for me.

 

[dlanod]

Would have to be a tie between him and Walker for me.

I'd give it to Taylor over Bastinac and Robertson. Walker has strung together a few good games but the others have been doing it most or all of the season.

 

[Dalions]

Would have to be a tie between him and Walker for me.

If Walker can consistenly pull together games like that then he will be extremely valuable. He has had a good last month.
Taylor has been consistently good this year and is taking his game from strength to strength. Most improved for mine.
Followed by Robertson.

 

[jjami15]

Just on Taylor he would have to be running third in the b+f for me personally behind Zorko and Beams. Hopefully finish top 5 due to not knowing the ins and outs of what the coaches roles/expect of players (don't be surprised to see Lester) up the pointy end.

 

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Lewy Taylor (25 disposals and two goals) continued a fine season, buzzing around as a high half-forward and missing only one target for the match – in the fourth quarter.

Taylor was so clean he missed his only target in the fourth quarter.

 

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Coach Fagan on Lewy

While Fagan doesn't have the luxury of a side containing triple-premiership players, he's pretty happy with the group he's got, including livewire forward Lewis Taylor who was busy against the Suns with 25 touches.

"I love Lewy's game. He's had a good year overall, he's had a couple of quiet ones, but by and large he's been a great player for us playing at high half-forward," he said. "His possessions are high, he takes the game on, he's an instability player, he gets through the lines and out the back. His demeanour around the club – he's such an enthusiastic and happy young bloke, and he's a joy to coach."

 

[iBeng]

96% disposal efficiency for 25 touches is just insane.

 

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[jackess]

Has played 83 games now. Will be one of our quickest to 100 games you'd think.

 

[Dylan12]

Has played 83 games now. Will be one of our quickest to 100 games you'd think.

Is on Justin Sherman level pace. The Worm racked up 114 in his 6 years and Lewy should go better again.

On the flipside, Simon Black reached 100 in the 02 GF after 5 years, although he played a fair few finals games.

 

[iBeng]

Is on Justin Sherman level pace. The Worm racked up 114 in his 6 years and Lewy should go better again.

On the flipside, Simon Black reached 100 in the 02 GF after 5 years, although he played a fair few finals games.

Redden?

 

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Team of the Week: Round 21

Forward Pocket - LEWIS TAYLOR (Brisbane Lions) – Showed his creativity with 25 disposals at 96 per cent efficiency (he missed just one target), booted two goals and had three assists.

 

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AFL Players 22Under22

The AFL Players' Association is proud to unveil the 2017 22Under22 squad, which honours some of the game's most exciting young talent.

Harris Andrews, Eric Hipwood and Lewis Taylor are the in the 40-man squad selected by the AFLPA Board for their performances across the 2017 home and away season. To be eligible for selection, players must be aged 22 years and under for the entirety of the season, including the finals series.

Given this is a fan voted award or in other words a "popularity contest", everyone should get behind our boys.

 

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How Lewis Taylor turned his form around

IN a season of across the board improvement at the Lions, Lewey Taylor may sit at the top of the heap. Last season was an indifferent one for Taylor — he endured a form slump, was dropped for the first time in his career and was locked in tense year-long contract negotiations with the Lions.

It ended on a positive note with him signing a three-year deal and it has proven to be beneficial for both parties. This week he was named as a forward in the 40-man under-22 squad that will be trimmed to 22 in the AFL Players Association’s All Star side for the competition’s rising stars.

Under new coach Chris Fagan, Taylor is playing more directly which is making his possessions more damaging and he is spending time further up the field, which has led to an increased possession count.

But the statistics that demonstrate the greatest improvement are tackles and contested possessions, which are both well up on last year. Taylor says Fagan’s arrival has had a major impact.

“We all sat down individually with Fages at the start of the year and mine was a great meeting that really set me up to crack in for a good year,’’ he said.
“He has been really helpful but his positivity is the main thing for me.’’

The most noticeable aspect of the Lions this year has been their ability to trouble oppositions with quick ball movement and foot speed and Taylor is one of their chief weapons. That pace is set to trouble the Kangaroos at the Gabba on Saturday in the match that will decide the wooden spoon.

Taylor said the positive new vibe at the Gabba this season had created a desperation to finish the season on a high.

“This year has been really enjoyable, we obviously have a big game this week, there is a bit to play for to get off the bottom of the ladder,’’ he said. “It might not seem like much to other people but to us it does.’’

While all the talk around the Lions has been their attack, they are becoming harder to score against and have even introduced a zone defence over the second half of the season. “We are playing a brand of footy that challenges a lot of sides,’’ he said. “The team defence is a work in progress and we will continue to work on it because we believe it is the style that will take us forward.’’

 

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[Nunez]

Nuts.