| Zac Taylor | |
| Fullname: | Zac Taylor |
| Nickname: | Milk |
| Birth Date: | 31 January 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Victoria, Australia |
| Originalteam: | Calder Cannons (Talent League), Oak Park (Vic), Penola Catholic College (Vic) |
| Draftpick: | No. 44, 2021 national draft |
| Debutdate: | Round 16, 2024 |
| Debutstadium: | Adelaide Oval |
| Height: | 180cm |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Guernsey: | 19 |
| Years1: | 2024– |
| Games Goals1: | 4 (1) |
| Statsend: | round 19, 2024 |
Zac Taylor (born 31 January 2003) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Taylor was selected with the 44th pick in the 2021 national draft.[1] [2]
Taylor played for Oak Park Football Club in Melbourne as a junior player, and was invited to play for the Calder Cannons in the Talent League. Taylor represented Vic Metro in the as an under-18 player, and briefly played matches for 's VFL side. In 2021, Taylor won the best-and-fairest award at Calder as a contested midfielder.[3]
Taylor was drafted at pick 44, in the third round of the 2021 national draft to . To his surprise, he was drafted alongside Jake Soligo, with whom he had struck a friendship during their time playing for Vic Metro.[2]
Taylor had a prolific period of form playing for Adelaide's reserve team in the SANFL, interrupted in his second year by a long-term foot injury.[4] Early in the 2024 season, Taylor appeared to seriously injury his knee,[5] but the injury was not as severe as initially expected.
Following a late injury to backman Chayce Jones, it was announced that Taylor would make his long-awaited debut in round 16 of 2024. As the tactical substitute, he replaced Brayden Cook and amassed four disposals in the final quarter of the win against at Adelaide Oval.[6] It was the first time that all of Adelaide's 2021-drafted players had played together – Taylor, Soligo, Josh Rachele, and pre-season draftee Luke Nankervis. Taylor was the sub again the following week, but made his first full appearance in round 18 against . Taylor was named one of Adelaide's best on that night, with 8 tackles, 8 clearances, and 12 contested possessions.[7]
In Taylor's second full game, and fourth overall, he kicked his first career goal from a set shot. The goal assisted Adelaide's stunning two-point win against .[8]
Statistics are correct to the end of round 19, 2024[9]
|- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2022| | 19| 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 0|- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2023| | 19| 0 || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || – || 0|- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2024| | 19| 4| 1 || 3 || 22 || 23 || 45 || 6 || 14 || 0.25 || 0.75 || 5.50 || 5.75 || 11.25 || 1.50 || 3.50 || TBC|- class=sortbottom! colspan=3 | Career! 4 !! 1 !! 3 !! 22 !! 23 !! 45 !! 6 !! 14 !! 0.25 !! 0.75 !! 5.50 !! 5.75 !! 11.25 !! 1.50 !! 3.50 !! 0|}
Taylor has two brothers, the elder of which he would have played junior football with if not for a collarbone injury in the pair's first game together at Oak Park.[3]
Taylor currently lives in Adelaide with Daniel Curtin and Hugh Bond,[6] who both also made their debuts in 2024.