Sam Taylor

Drafted from Swan Districts with pick 28 in the 2017 National Draft, Sam Taylor quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the Greater Western Sydney defence. A commanding key back with an exceptional ability to read the flight of the ball, Taylor built his reputation on courageous intercept marking and relentless spoiling efforts against the competition's most dangerous key forwards. Despite arriving at the Giants as a quiet teenager from Western Australia, he adapted rapidly to the elite level, playing in the club's maiden Grand Final appearance in 2019 during just his second season.

Taylor's career faced a significant hurdle in 2020 when a debilitating battle with septic arthritis saw him hospitalised and sidelined for the majority of the season, creating genuine fears for his playing future. His subsequent return to full fitness marked the beginning of his ascent to the upper echelon of AFL defenders, culminating in a breakout 2022 campaign where he earned his first All-Australian blazer and won the Kevin Sheedy Medal as the Giants' club champion. Widely regarded as one of the premier one-on-one defenders in the game, Taylor combines defensive discipline with the capacity to launch counter-attacks from the back half.