Dicky Taylor names his ultimate Swans dream team

From Coast rugby royalty to hit men and blokes simply known for their bus trip antics, Richard "Dicky" Taylor has unveiled his ultimate Maroochydore Swans 1-15.

Maroochydore Swans legend of more than 300 games, Richard 'Dicky' Taylor, has named his ultimate 1-15 of all time teammates. Photo: Patrick Woods

Coast rugby royalty, bone rattling hit men and blokes simply known for their nude bus trip antics, Richard 'Dicky' Taylor has unveiled his ultimate list of Maroochydore Swans teammates.

Taylor, a Swans veteran since 1996, says he loves the club so much it has become an addiction.

He's been there through personal lows and through the unrivalled joys of title success and part of the framework for more than two decades.

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Maroochydore Swans Richard 'Dicky' Taylor in 2018 ahead of his 300th game for the club. Photo: Patrick Woods

Only this week he found himself driving to the beachside clubhouse after work for a beer.

"They asked me what I was doing there," Taylor said.

"I didn't really have an answer. I think autopilot switched on.

"It's my home away from home. The people, the guys here are one of the reasons I keep playing.

"You're just always trying to chase that first high, the first premierships. It's an addiction for me."

Taylor said title success - he won with Colts in 1997, A-grade as captain in 2005 and two reserve grade titles - was at the forefront of his selection process.

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But so too were the characters - some with stories that cannot be printed - and heroes he looked up to and younger guns that he admires today.

"Guys like Paul Stitt, John Dann, John Currey, I watched them play when I first joined the club, then I had the opportunity tom play with them," he said.

"That was a real highlight to play with them before they retired.

"Same with the younger guys too, you sit back and notice the little things they do.

"Then some of the premiership seasons, they hang on in the memory, great days."

This season has been a different role for Taylor, who has had his game time limited as the dedicated COVID-19 officer.

But he has vowed to return to the game they play in heaven with a bang.

"I'm not going anywhere, rugby is the best sport on the planet, I'm only 42, why stop now," he said.

 

Below is Taylor's 1-15 and his reasons for the selection in his own words.

1: Shon Siemonek - had to help look for a blokes teeth at half time of game after he got tackled by Shon. Legally too I might add. Enough said.

Shon Siemonek in action for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays rep side. Photo Brett Wortman

2: Hayden Murray - pin point line out throws and strongly endorses nude bus trips.

3: Reggie Guilford - technically the best prop I've ever played with and loves a beer and getting nude with a trophy covering his bits and pieces. Must be a front row thing.

4: John Currey - Sunny Coast rugby royalty. A bloke that the whole field looked up to. (vice-captain).

5: Tom Wood - the godfather, mostly there for his singing ability, not a rugby song he doesn't know.

Swans fellow 300-gamer, Tom Wood ahead of his milestone. Photo: Warren Lynam

6: Omar Suileman - A completely different person on the field to off it, and together with Shon the biggest hitter I've seen. Glad I played with them and not against them.

7: Phil Hurst - for a 48-year-old it's amazing how hard he still goes. Has had more injuries than Evil Knievel, but keeps coming back. Has a 2011 reserve grade premiership in which he was arguably man of the match.

8: John Dann - You could tell the opposition if he was going to pick and go off the back of a scrum and they still couldn't stop him.

9: Paul Stitt - Not many people who could tell John Currey and Brett Johnstone what to do on the field but that's how good he was.

Maroochydore scrumhalf Paul Stitt kicks the ball over a maul back in 2005. Photo: Nicholas Falconer

10: Brett Johnstone - I've never seen someone who appeared to have so much time with the ball in their hands and can pass nearly the width of the field both sides. I guess that's why he made the Qld Reds team of the decade. (C).

11: Lasaro Manamoli - The happiest man I've played with and can also kick the ball into outer space and could change direction on a 5c piece

12: Makea Pokere - Watched him more than I played with him but another guy who made the game look amazingly easy.

13: Cole Dalton - has played close to 200 A-Grade games, always runs the same line and is still scoring tries doing it. Says a lot about his talent.

Cole Dalton in action for Maroochydore. Photo: Che Chapman

14: Jamie Stewart - would glide around the paddock like he was floating on air beautiful to watch. Always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

15: Shane Jefferson - won three premierships with him by my side, best clutch kicker I've seen, Caloundra could've used him the other week.

Back reserve: Pat O'Heir - copybook tackler, can play in a variety of positions very well and no one gives more on the field for the team than he does.

Forward reserve: James Turvey - provides great entertainment both on and off the field.

Coach: Michael Scanlon - my U/19 coach taught me a lot about the game including the catchphrase "if you kick the ball and don't get it back I'll chop your f---ing foot off.

Manager: Mike Elder - the quintessential rugby tragic. Would turn up on grand final day in his tweed jacket, slacks and RMs not matter what the temperature. His voice would pierce the crowd with his "encouragement". Sorely missed.

Water boy and COVID officer: Myself.

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