A turbo engine capable of running out full games of football, along with the size to play on small and tall forwards, had those inside the GC SUNS camp likening Jeremy Taylor to Geelong’s star half-back Corey Enright.
“He is a great size and shape, and works just as hard as anyone at the football club on his craft,” GC SUNS assistant coach Dean Solomon says.
“I have total confidence that he will take no prisoners over the summer and will eventually bust back in to the senior side again and best of all, it will be off pure hard work when it happens.”
The only Gold Coast SUNS player (with AFL experience) not to add to his career tally in 2013, Taylor is expected to return in November with a no-holds barred attitude as he searches for consistency and stability in his game.
Restricted to a modified training program after suffering multiple concussions earlier this year, Taylor looked the goods when he returned to the fold, turning in polished performances through the NEAFL under Shaun Hart and the rest of the club’s development coaches.
Unfortunately, a finger injury sustained against the Northern Territory Thunder at TIO Stadium would all but rule Taylor out for the remainder of the year, with the Gold Coaster needing a titanium metal pin inserted into his finger.
Fighting his way back, Taylor managed to close out the season in strong form, narrowly missing out on senior selection according to Solomon.
“Jeremy had a year riddled with injuries but was close to being in the side against Greater Western Sydney in Round 23,” he said.
“He just missed out unfortunately, but being the ultimate professional he is, that would have just driven him even more for next year.”
“That is just his mentality – and people like that rarely miss out on opportunities, so we are looking forward to good things from JT.”
With the AFL set to introduce a cap of 120 rotations per match for the 2014 and 2015 AFL Premiership Seasons, Solomon said Taylor’s elite aerobic capacity and strength multiple positions may work in favour for the medium-sized defender.
“He has the flexibility to play on a small but also as a third tall, and with the rotations cap coming in to place in 2014, its important players can play a high amount of game time,” Solomon said.
“So that certainly brings him in to the calculations I would have thought.”