Don Taylor

Born in Largs Bay into a strong footballing family, Don Taylor was the son of a Port Adelaide player who found his way to the VFL through the exigencies of the Second World War. Originally a West Adelaide recruit, he joined South Melbourne in 1942 while stationed in Victoria for military service, making an immediate impression by playing in the club's finals campaign before his duties pulled him away. Taylor returned to the Lakeside Oval in 1947 for a second stint, where he established himself as a highly versatile utility. Although he preferred playing as a defender, South Melbourne frequently deployed him as a forward or resting rover to capitalise on his sharp goal sense, a tactic that yielded a career-best haul of six goals against Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval. He played one final season in 1948, swinging between attack and defence, before requesting a clearance back to South Australia to join Glenelg, where he would go on to win two club best and fairest awards.