Northcote captain Steve Taylor crowned Premier Cricket Ryder Medal winner for 2015-16

STEVE Taylor started Friday riding a tractor in Holbrook and finished it as a member of Premier Cricket’s most elite club.

t Northcote captain Steve Taylor at the club's home ground Bill Lawry Oval. Picture: David Smith

STEVE Taylor started Friday riding a tractor in Holbrook and finished it as a member of Premier Cricket’s most elite club.

Taylor was at work in the country New South Wales town on Friday morning, tossing up whether to make the four-hour trek to Melbourne to attend the Premier awards.

As he often did as Northcote captain during the 2015-16 season, Taylor made the right call.

The 24-year-old held off Fitzroy-Doncaster’s Trent Lawford and Ringwood batsman David King by two votes, becoming the fifth Dragons player in history to win the Ryder Medal.

“I actually work up (in Holbrook) during the week and travel back,” Taylor said.

“I head back Sunday, work for a land company and come back to Melbourne Wednesday afternoon to train Wednesday-Thursday and play Saturday.

“I was quite literally on the tractor (on Friday). I’ve spent four weeks up there since the season ended just having a break from everything.”

Taylor’s father Neale and Neale’s wife Robyn were invited to attend the awards by Northcote, suggesting the club was confident its captain would poll well.

“The club was really good, they made it really special,” he said.

“It was a pretty emotional time for them, dad doesn’t come down a lot but he’s been a massive supporter of mine.

“For him to be there when it went down, it was really first-class from Northcote.”

But the all-rounder had no idea a campaign which yielded 513 runs and 22 wickets would see him join Premier Cricket greats such as Graeme Rummans and Warren Ayres as a Ryder medallist.

“It’s probably the most consistent year I’ve had,” he said.

“I think a lot of those stats come down to me being on the park. I’ve probably missed 4-6 weeks of every season the last four seasons.

“This year was the first year I haven’t done that. Playing those extra weeks ... being fit and having confidence in your body definitely helps.”

Taylor’s fitness allowed him to shoulder a greater bowling load for the Dragons, increasing his output from 95.5 overs in 2014-15 to 132.5 overs.

“Bowling is what was doing the damage,” he said.

“Now that’s right it’s allowed me to bowl extra overs and have a big impact.”

Taylor, who led Northcote to its first Premier Cricket finals appearance in 11 years this summer, said he still had plenty to improve on.

“It hasn’t sunk in at all,” he said.

“It’s pretty exciting, I think I’ve got that much improvement left.

“We don’t play for individual accolades but when they come along it’s nice to know you’re on the right track and your hard work is being noticed.”

He said he would use a long-haul flight to England, where he will play for Mildenhall in the Two Counties Cricket Championship, to let the enormity of his achievement sink in.

“I’m the fifth Northcote player to win it and it’s pretty elite company at the club,” he said.

“Those players are serious players. To now have one, it’s incredible.”

FINAL TALLY

Steve Taylor (Northcote) — 31 votes

Trent Lawford (Fitzroy-Doncaster) — 29 votes

David King (Ringwood) — 29 votes

James Miller (Kingston-Hawthorn) — 26 votes

Tom Smyth (Carlton) — 25 votes

Ian Holland (Ringwood) — 23 votes

Simon Hill (Camberwell Magpies) — 22 votes