Sam Taylor signs massive seven-year contract extension with GWS

GWS have re-signed one of their most important players to a massive deal that will surely keep him at the club for the rest of his career.

The AFL’s best interceptor is set to stay at the Giants for the rest of his career. Picture: Michael Klein

Sam Taylor is a Giant for life with the AFL’s No.1 key defender signing a massive seven-year contract extension to stay at Greater Western Sydney.

Despite not coming off-contract until the end of 2025, the 25-year-old’s future has been widely discussed on the back of his growing reputation in the game. He ranks first for all key defenders in the competition this season for intercepts and is second for intercept marks.

Understandably, there was interest from both Western Australia clubs who would have been intrigued at the prospect of bringing him back to his home state.

However, Taylor never entertained any alternative and was determined to remain at the Giants. He also hopes the length of his deal, which will see him in the orange and charcoal until the end of 2032, means he won’t be subject to any rumour-mongering for the rest of his career.

Sam Taylor has signed a seven-year contract extension at the Giants through to the end of 2032. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“There was already talk which was crazy and I didn’t want to be involved in it,” Taylor said. “I get out of contract in a year and a half so I wasn’t in a fuss to get it done.

“This is the club I want to be at, I love this club and it was a really easy decision. The club spoke to my manager earlier in the year and we sorted something out.

“I don’t like (the speculation). I didn’t want to entertain other clubs, I didn’t want to disrespect them when I knew I was going to stay. That’s why I got it done early, I didn’t want to be in the media about it.

“It is an honour and I can’t wait to play for this great club for another eight years.”

Taylor admits it wasn’t just the external speculation, with friends and family constantly in his ear. But even they knew his heart now belongs to the Giants, even if a hometown newspaper didn’t help their chances.

“I can use (the West Australian ‘Traitors’ back page) as a great excuse,” Taylor said with tongue firmly planted in cheek. “If they didn’t do that newspaper, maybe I would have gone to West Coast.

“I’ll be interested to see if they do anything in the newspaper about me being a traitor again. But it’s all fun.

“They all wanted me back at West Coast or Freo. Whenever I go back to Perth, there was always a bit from mates with, ‘When you coming?’ and stuff like that.

“But I think they know that this is what I wanted and it’s the right decision. It’s where I want to be.

“I just wanted to focus on and enjoy my football. I think Giants will be pushing for a premiership for the next five years, so where else would you want to be?”

A satirical back page may have helped Taylor make the decision to remain in Sydney. Picture: The West Australian/Twitter

The new deal means that Taylor is now signed on for the next eight seasons at the Giants – “The contract is longer than I’ve been at the club,” he said.

Taken at pick 28 in the 2017 draft, Taylor has played 102 games for the club over the past seven years. He earned All-Australian selection after a career-best year in 2022, while narrowly missed out on the honour again last year after an extensive hamstring injury.

Although he is slightly nervous about having his future locked away for so long, Taylor is increasingly positive that he is part of a club destined for long-term success.

“It’s more daunting than having security,” he said. “It sounds like I’m here forever.

“But my goal in football is to win a premiership, and hopefully we can do that a few times while I’m here.

“We’ve spoken about that as a team and that’s what we’re trying to achieve. We have the right people to achieve that. That’s my goal, and I’m sure there’s 43 other blokes that want to do the same thing.

“The club is full of great people and I want to be around great people. Hopefully, we can get it done.”

Following a shaky month, the Giants’ march to September got back on track with a nailbiting win against Geelong before the bye.

Taylor is confident that the Giants are on the right path to premiership glory. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The match featured a return to their solid defensive structures, where they only allowed two goals from 24 inside 50s in the final quarter.

It also saw Taylor back to his best who continues to grow in confidence following his sickening concussion against St Kilda. He hopes the team can cnow apitalise on that victory to secure a home final.

“I think it’s known that I hate losing and losing three games in a row wasn’t fun,” Taylor said. “We needed to get back to the winner’s list.

“I think it did take me four weeks to finally find my groove again. When we were losing against Geelong, putting my body on the line, I had the feeling of, ‘I’m back’, which was good.

“When you’re surrounded by great players, your game lifts. The other defensive pillars like Bucks (Jack Buckley) and Connor Idun and the rest, they’re so crucial to our team’s defence. It’s a joy to be around and it makes my job easier.

“Our goal as a team is always to win games, in whatever way we can do that. I’ve so much trust in the defence to get the job done.

“To get a win going into the bye was great for us. Hopefully, we can keep that going, get some momentum, pick some wins up and secure a top-four spot.”

Originally published as Sam Taylor signs massive seven-year contract extension with GWS