AFL draft: Curtis Taylor headed to North Melbourne at pick no. 46

SENIOR premiership player at 16. AFL player at 18. Curtis Taylor realised his AFL dream on Friday when he was selected by North Melbourne at pick no. 46.

Curtis Taylor dashes away from congestion in the TAC Cup. Picture: Richard Serong

SENIOR premiership player at 16. AFL player at 18.

Curtis Taylor realised his AFL dream on Friday when he was selected by North Melbourne at pick no. 46 in the AFL national draft.

The Calder Cannons forward, who has been compared to West Coast’s Mark Le Cras, endured a nervous wait after being a late invite to attend the first round of the draft on Thursday.

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Tipped as a potential top-20 selection, Taylor had to wait until about 90 minutes into Friday’s proceedings before his name was read out.

The elusive mid-sized forward featured in Keilor’s Essendon District league Premier Division flag in 2016, kicking a crucial goal and showcasing his ability on the big stage.

Curtis Taylor gets to know his new coach Brad Scott.

“He’s just got a real appetite for the game which is what you have got to have if you want to make your dream turn into a reality,” Keilor coach Mick McGuane, who plucked Taylor from under-16 football, said.

“All the hard work and sacrifices based on what you have to do to match your talent and your skill set gives you every opportunity to get picked.”

Curtis Taylor looking 👌 in his new colours. #AFLDraft #BeAShinboner pic.twitter.com/Q6QxlvvOW2

— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) November 23, 2018

McGuane said he first recognised Taylor’s talent when he dominated an EDFL under-14 fixture for the Blues.

“He was incredibly brave, and I am not talking just at the contest,” McGuane said.

“Just in terms of his work rate and his effort to shoulder the responsibility of trying to get his own team over the line.

“That was a signature game for me, for a young kid, to say one, ‘he’s got what it takes because he’s competitive’.

“He might not have had the depth of talent around him to get the job done, but he single-handedly tried to lift his group to win a premiership that day.”

Curtis Taylor celebrates a goal as a 16-year-old for Keilor. Picture: Kylie Else

Calder coach Ross Smith said the Roos would benefit from Taylor’s versatility.

“(He’s) someone that can certainly play in the middle but can also go forward, is a good mark and can kick goals,” Smith said.

“In my time, he hasn’t played a lot down back. But he’s a good clearance player, he’s got good clean hands.

“He can certainly take a mark and he’s a reasonable kick at goal as well and a good size. He’s probably a little bit in the Mark Le Cras mould.”

Taylor booted 14 goals in 12 TAC Cup matches this year, averaging 17.9 disposals, 2.7 tackles and 4.8 marks.

“I am absolutely over the moon. I am really stoked,” he told Fox Footy.

“It was a long wait, just waiting with mum and dad. But now that it’s happening, I am that excited to get into it.”

Listed at 186cm and 79kg, Smith said Taylor would be a forward capable of pinch-hitting in midfield at the elite level.

“Maybe he’s a little bit bigger than Mark (Le Cras) but he seems to be that sort of player,” Smith said.

“What Curtis has got is his ability to go through the middle which I haven’t seen Mark Le Cras do a lot of.”

His best game of 2018 was against Greater Western Victoria Rebels in Round 8, when he had 29 possessions, 10 marks and four tackles.

Taylor was the third Calder Cannon selected on Friday after Rhylee West (Western Bulldogs, pick 26) and Jack Bytel (St Kilda, pick 41).

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