Michael Taylor inducted into Australian Football League Hall of Fame

THE Norwood Football Club would like to congratulate former Captain, Club Legend, and Premiership Player Michael Taylor on his induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Michael Taylor well known as ‘Kingo’ has achieved almost everything he could at the Norwood Football Club.

Taylor joins Walter Scott, Jack Oatey, Haydn Bunton Jnr and John Daly as previous Norwood servants who have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Taylor, went on to become a six-time Best and Fairest winner. He is currently Norwood’s most decorated Club Champion, one of the first Legends inducted into the Norwood Football Club and now an Australian Football League Hall of Famer.

Born on December 30, 1953, Michael “Kingo” Taylor came to Norwood as a 15-year-old from the South-East town of Kingston. He first played for the Norwood Colts, coached by Mal Smith.

Under the guidance of Robert Farnham, the Norwood Thirds won the premiership in 1971. In a sign of things to come, Taylor was runner-up in the Thirds best and fairest award.

Making his league debut in the opening round of the 1972 season, he played another thirteen senior games for the year, as well as seven Reserves games.

Taylor won his first best and fairest award for Norwood in 1973. After another stellar season as a back-pocket/centreman, he won the award again the following year, this time under new coach Robert Hammond.

Named in a back-pocket for the 1975 Grand Final, he was an important member of the side which won its first flag in 25 years. He was also runner-up in the best and fairest award to Ross Dillon and represented South Australia in his first interstate game during the year.

A true leader and role model, he was appointed club captain in 1978, Norwood’s centenary year. Named in the centre for the Grand Final, he was best on ground in Norwood’s unforgettable one point victory over Sturt. He also had the honour of being named Norwood’s best and fairest in its 100th year.

His brilliant form continued, and he was named Club Champion in 1979 and 1980.

1980 was possibly his best season when he won the E.A. Johnson Service Award, and the NFC Past Players’ Association Award. Despite also winning nearly all the media awards, he was runner-up in the Magarey Medal. Taylor also played his 200th game during the year.

After captaining the Redlegs for three years and winning the club best and fairest award in each of those seasons, Kingo transferred to Collingwood in 1981.

Returning to the Parade in 1985, he took over where he had left off, adding a sixth best and fairest in 1986. His final game, against Port Adelaide, was in the 1987 qualifying final.

He represented the State on 13 occasions, was a regular selection from 1975, and was vice-captain in 1979 and 1980. He was SANFL State coach in 1993 and 1994.

Taylor was Collingwood’s assistant coach from 1988 to 1990, coaching the Reserves, and from 1991 to 1995 was appointed assistant coach of the Adelaide Crows.

Michael Taylor was inducted into the South Australian Hall of Fame in 2002, and was named in a back pocket in Norwood’s “Team of the Century”.

The Norwood Football Club would again like to congratulate Michael Taylor on his incredible contribution and achievements culminating in his induction into the Australian Football League Hall of Fame.

STATISTICS

Guernsey Number: 29
Career: 1972 to 1980 & 1985 to 1987
NFC Games: 289
NFC Goals: 126
Debut: v Port Adelaide (Norwood) 1st April 1972
Finale: v Port Adelaide (Football Park) 12th September 1987

Norwood Captain: 1978 to 1980
Premierships: 1975, 1978
NFC Life Member
Norwood Hall of Fame: Legend
SANFL Hall of Fame
Norwood Team of the Century
Best & Fairest: 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986
Advertiser Team of the Year: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1987
South Australian Games: 13
VFL/AFL Clubs: Collingwood