Already without one of their key defensive pillars in Matthew Scarlett who has a hamstring injury, the Cats were considering their options in the event Taylor would stay behind in Geelong with his partner awaiting the birth of the couple’s first child.
But the timely arrival of James Taylor might have spared the Cats from calling for back-up, with the centre half back and his partner welcoming their son a few days out from the Cats’ round 11 clash.
Geelong chief executive Brian Cook said he thought Taylor, one of the stars of the premiers’ reign at the top of the table, would return to his home state to play this weekend.
“It all went well with Michelle giving birth this afternoon,” Cook told The Geelong Advertiser on Wednesday.
“Mum and bub are good and of course dad is very happy. We believe he will play on the weekend.”
Taylor has been a sensational acquisition for the Cats since being drafted as a mature-age recruit at the end of 2007.
Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells plucked the versatile defender from the WAFL in a bid to bolster the Cats’ defence, knowing the playing future of Matthew Egan was in some doubt.
Since then Taylor has played 53 senior matches, his most important being last year’s grand final effort on St Kilda superstar Nick Riewoldt.
Taylor has taken his game to another level in 2010. He has played every match, with some believing he could be in contention for an All-Australian berth.
