IT IS little surprise Brisbane Lions draftee Lewis Taylor has looked up to Brent Harvey for most of his youth.
Harvey, the 35-year-old North Melbourne champion, is almost twice Taylor's age and has played 362 more games, but their stature and game style are remarkably similar.
Taylor surprised many by slipping through to pick number 28 in last week's NAB AFL Draft, and, like many draftees, comes to the Lions with big raps.
He stands just 173cm and weighs in at 73kg, but was the Vic Country captain, was a Geelong Falcons star, and was picked as an under-18 All Australian.
But a stress fracture in his foot late in the season cost Taylor, and saw him slide down the draft order.
Not that it bothers the confident 18-year-old.
He fronted his first media session in Brisbane during the week with the relaxation and knockabout attitude of a player far more his senior.
Asked about the comparison to Harvey – who stands 172cm and 75kg – Taylor was happy to admit how much an admirer of the Kangaroo he is.
"I'm a big fan of Boomer," Taylor said.
"I just like the way he plays the game, takes it on. He's obviously been around for a long time and I've loved watching him.
"He's about my height as well, so he's good to watch and follow and learn things off."
Anyone that's seen Taylor play – or his highlights package – can see the similarities. Like Harvey, Taylor is agile, elusive, quick and an excellent ball user.
The trademark Harvey baulk is also prominent.
The other player the AIS graduate looked up to in his youth was Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins.
Taylor was a West Coast fan and when Cousins switched to the Tigers, so did the diminutive midfielder.
But now he's all about the Lions and trying to win the respect of his new teammates and coaches as quickly as possible.
"First up I just want to get the fitness up as much as I can and give the first year a red-hot crack," he said.
"I'm pretty cruisy, but when it's time to work, I work. That's the way I like to go."
