Geelong defender Harry Taylor puts birth of child before playing against Gold Coast

GEELONG star Harry Taylor could miss Sunday's clash against Gold Coast to be at the birth of his second child.

Harry Taylor

GEELONG star Harry Taylor could miss Sunday's clash against Gold Coast to be at the birth of his second child.

Taylor's wife Michelle is due to give birth on Saturday and, while his teammates have spent the week in Queensland, the premiership defender has stayed home to be by her side.

Geelong is waiting on any news from Taylor, but if the baby doesn't arrive by early Saturday afternoon, he is unlikely to play.

The Cats don't want him flying up on Sunday morning.

Earlier this year North Melbourne star Drew Petrie made headlines when he said he would play footy rather than be at the birth of his second child - a stance supported by his wife Nicole.

"I won't be missing a game of footy, she's good with that," Petrie said.

"If it was my first child, we agreed I'd miss a game, but lucky we had him (son Jack) in October, that was the off-season, so it was perfect and this time I won't miss a game."

In the end Petrie didn't have to make the call when his new daughter arrived several days before the game.

With key forward James Podsiadly also missing the match through injury, young forward Mitch Brown shapes as his likely replacement if Taylor doesn't make the journey.

Brown will be waiting for a phone call this morning as the Cats will have to withdraw him from their VFL side and put him on a plane.

Geelong's VFL side is playing Box Hill at Simonds Stadium.