PHIL Davis and Nick Haynes have had standout seasons in defence for Greater Western Sydney, which means the form of youngster Sam Taylor has largely gone ignored.
PRELIMINARY FINAL PREVIEW Magpies v Giants
By most outside the walls of the Giants, that is.
Watching Taylor's no-fuss yet ruthlessly competitive approach, it's hard to believe he's just a second-year player.
Sam Taylor has learned plenty playing alongside Phil Davis and Nick Haynes. Picture: AFL Photos
However, there's a reason the Giants were quick to sign the tall defender to a contract extension earlier this season that ties him to the club until at least the end of 2022.
He's the man earmarked to be the leader of the GWS backline by the time that deal is up.
Taylor has had an ideal start to his senior career after arriving from Perth at the end of 2017, and ahead of Saturday's massive preliminary final against Collingwood, he told AFL.com.au that he's been blessed to play alongside two of the game's best backmen in Davis and Haynes.
The boys in the backline are so experienced, and I'm so fortunate that they've been there to help me - Sam Taylor
"All year they've been huge with their intercept marking, and that's something I want to work on as well," he said.
"They're such great role models to help me develop my game.
"The boys in the backline are so experienced, and I'm so fortunate that they've been there to help me.
"More importantly, they help us win games and they're a great asset to our team."
Softly-spoken off the field, Taylor has a second personality he brings out once he pulls on the orange and charcoal jumper.
It's made him a much-loved member of the Giants team.
"I just hate getting beaten," he said.
"Growing up with five brothers, I've always had this really competitive instinct inside me.
"If I get beaten I just want to get better and better.
"Once I cross that white line, I'll do anything I can to not get beaten and do my best for the team."
When the Giants bowed out of last year's finals series at the hands of the Magpies in their semi-final at the MCG, Taylor, Aidan Corr and Heath Shaw were all missing from the team's backline.
They might be missing some star quality in Toby Greene, Stephen Coniglio, Lachie Whitfield Callan Ward and Brett Deledio on Saturday, but when the two teams meet for a spot in the Grand Final, Leon Cameron's side is full strength and in menacing form at one end of the ground.
Taylor said the settled defensive unit of the Giants will be crucial in front of a parochial Pies crowd.
"We stay focused by talking, and Phil and 'Heater' do a great job of keeping us in good shape," he said.
"There's constant communication, because if we drop off there's a chance that things can open up.
"I feel like nothing can stop us when we're on and communicating well.
"It gives you great confidence on handover, you just know the other guy will get the job done.
"We're a really close-knit group so that helps us stay in the game and not get distracted by the crowd.
"That'll just stir us up even more, and we like having our backs to the wall and fighting our way out of it."
Find Trends on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify
