Harry Taylor wants Geelong to go after off-season targets Gary Ablett and Jake Stringer
HARRY Taylor says Geelong’s senior players are on board with an off-season trade windfall that could secure the club Gary Ablett and Jake Stringer.
HARRY Taylor says Geelong’s senior players are on board with an off-season trade windfall that could secure the club Gary Ablett and Jake Stringer.
Taylor, 31, has one more season on a five-year contract and says the drive to win another premiership is his biggest motivation.
Western Bulldogs half-forward Stringer would like to play at Geelong next year and Ablett’s management says he would take a pay cut to return to his first club.
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Taylor says his message to the club’s powerbrokers has been they should do anything they can to keep Geelong in contention.
“Our recruiters have done a fantastic job up until now with our club. One thing we ask is they just give us the best chance to compete every single year,’’ he told the Herald Sun.
“It’s the only thing as a leader I ask of the club, just give us a chance to be successful.
“They have taken that on board and been fantastic in picking up players in the draft or trading player who have kept us relevant and kept us in the finals.
Asked if that included adding Ablett and Stringer, Taylor said he was on board.
“Whatever decision they decide to make, hopefully they do it with that in mind, that we stay relevant and stay competitive.
“We want to be a really successful team every year competing for the flag.
“I don’t want to change that now, I want that to be the case for as long as possible.”
The star defender turned swingman says it has been a privilege to play with Patrick Dangerfield given his capacity to continually lift Geelong over the line.
But he isn’t yet tempted to dream of an Ablett-Dangerfield double act in the forward line or midfield.
“Mate, I don’t let my mind wander yet, but maybe one day we will see it,” he says.
Taylor, 31 is yet to decide when to hang up his boots but says people he trusts will let him know when it is time to retire.
“I an not entirely sure. I guess I look in the mirror and see my hair going a bit greyer but hopefully that’s the kids more than anything.
“I will have a chat to the relevant people at some point. I have some people who will let me know when they think I should step away from the game.
“I have a few handshake agreements that I have made along the way. It’s such a difficult decision but I hope I make the right decision with the right advice.”
Cats fans have long wondered how the club will cope without veteran full back Tom Lonergan, who retires at the end of this season.
But Taylor says last week’s win over Sydney without Lonergan showed the encouraging young kids were progressing quickly.
“Zach Tuohy is in his first year with us and so is Tom Stewart and Lachie Henderson is in his second and these guys are going to keep getting better the longer they spend together.
“We think defensively we are going to be in pretty good stead for the future.
“Those guys are really keen to keep learning and developing their game.”
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