Cat Harry Taylor marks in front of Bulldog Jordan Roughead. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun
RECRUITER Stephen Wells would surely have that long-promised statue of himself erected outside Simonds Stadium were it not for the list management headaches he creates.
The latest issue for Geelong is unsigned defender Harry Taylor who, in the absence of Matthew Scarlett, has been doing a passable impression of the future Hall of Famer.
The West Australian, plucked by Wells from the WAFL, is in white-hot form, which has the Cats desperate to re-sign him.
Despite the pull of home and two young children, Taylor is loyal, but it would be negligent for him to sign a new contract when his price is skyrocketing by the week.
Geelong will have to wait, aware that in six games Taylor has gone from a valuable key position defender to the hottest swingman in the game.
Harry Taylor of the Cats celebrates after kicking a goal during the round five AFL match against Western Bulldogs and the Geelong Cats at Etihad Stadium. Picture: Scott Barbour Source: Getty Images
Taylor has conceded three goals and kicked 9.5 himself this season, despite spending only 21 per cent of his time in attack.
He has kept the likes of Adam Goodes, Drew Petrie, Jarryd Roughead and David Hale goalless and then, when stationed forward against the Western Bulldogs, kicked 5.2 on Jordan Roughead.
The AFL season guide describes Taylor as a "safe, reliable" defender.
He is more than that. He is a star. And the suitors are queuing up.
Imagine what a club such as St Kilda, Fremantle or West Coast would offer for a consistent finals performer who can play as a key defender or full-forward.
Especially one who is just 26, is second in intercept marks, and has proved his durability with 118 of a possible 129 games since being taken with pick 17 from East Fremantle in 2007.
How good a judge is Wells? He turned a rookie in Matthew Egan into an All-Australian defender, watched him break down in late 2007 and then selected a replacement in Taylor, who hasn't missed a beat.
Estimating contract figures at Geelong is problematic given its team-first ethos, but it's safe to say Taylor would have accepted a modest reward when he signed his last contract, considering the Cats' array of talent.
Would Geelong need to pay him north of $500,000 a year?
Geelong's Harry Taylor took Crows full-forward out of the match at Simonds Stadium. Picture: Scott Barbour. Source: Getty Images
Would a club with an open cheque-book believe he was worth $700,000 a year, especially when key defenders are so hard to secure, as St Kilda found out with Mitch Brown in the trade period?
They might sound crazy numbers, but Melbourne threw huge money at Chris Dawes and Mitch Clark.
Retirement decisions that would clear salary-cap space at Geelong are a long way off, but Corey Enright and Paul Chapman are playing well enough to continue next year, with 31-year-old Joel Corey probably 50-50 to go on.
The mail is that Taylor will make Geelong increase its offer and then stay.
But Geelong has lost players in Gary Ablett and Shane Mumford through no other reason than its inability to pay them market rates, given the quality of its list.
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