EDFL 2021: Moonee Valley’s Stuart Taylor boots 10 goals in Division 2

Moonee Valley scored a crushing victory in EDFL Division 2, with one player producing a stunning performance after a long break.

(From left) Jack Newman, Ned Wilson and Billy Hansen celebrate a Moonee Valley on Saturday. Picture: Jamie Morey

Experienced forward Stuart Taylor played his first game in four years on Saturday.

While most had 18 months off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Taylor’s last appearance for Moonee Valley came in July 2017.

He made his long-awaited return against Northern Saints in Essendon District Football League Division 2 on Saturday.

The result? Taylor booted 10 goals in a remarkable first-up performance as the Fog flexed their muscle to score a crushing 142-point victory, 31.15 (201) to 9.5 (59).

“He broke his foot playing for Moonee Valley (in 2017) and then he went overseas for a bit,” assistant coach Cory McGrath said.

“He came back in ripping condition. I think he ran a marathon in the pre-season and he was fresh, up and about. He just goes about his business, gets the job done.

“He’s a great forward, knows where the goals are and is a powerful kick. He’s a bit older than most of the boys, so he’s got some real good footy smarts and is teaching the boys as well.”

Taylor booted 46 goals for Moonee Valley across the 2016 and 2017 campaigns and also had a stint with Airport West when it was in Premier Division.

Asked if Taylor’s heroics came as a surprise given his layoff, ex-AFL player McGrath said: “A little bit. We see at training how he’s a good leader and marker of the footy.

“To actually see him in the game dominate the way he did was really good.

“But that comes down to getting the ball to him in an efficient manner as well.”

Taylor was not the only Fog forward to feast on the supply from the midfield, with Sam O’Brien contributing five majors, Jack Newman and Braden Padmore three each and Sam Milne two.

Jordan Faba (48 goals in 2019) and Rocky Ferraro (40) are also yet to take the field this season.

McGrath said recruits Billy Hansen, Liam Sabri, Mitch Collins and Kane Timmins had bolstered the line-up.

“When you’ve got good depth that can spread across all the ground and change positions, it helps out the side,” he said.

The 2019 league best-and-fairest winner said Moonee Valley was the best placed it had been since he arrived three years ago.

“Probably in terms of personnel, yes, because we’ve got a lot of senior guys that are actually playing reserves footy that were playing (seniors) in previous years,” McGrath said.

“From that point of view, the club’s in a good position going forward.

“We just want the depth right across the board, because in the previous years the difference between our best and worst players has been a big gap.”

The Fog will tackle fellow undefeated side Oak Park at Ormond Park in Round 4.

The Kangaroos were relegated from Division 1 at the end of 2019 and boast a percentage of 346.37.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” McGrath said.

“Any team that’s come down from Div 1 wants to get back up there pretty quick, and that’s where we want to get to.

“It’ll be a good measuring stick for us for the year. It’s going to be a good tussle.”