Brian Taylor (Australian footballer)

Brian Taylor
Personal information
Full name	Brian Taylor
Nickname(s)	BT, Bristle
Date of birth	(1962-04-10) 10 April 1962
Place of birth	Mandurah, Western Australia
Height/Weight	191 cm / 91 kg
Position(s)	Forward
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1980–1984 1985–1990 Total	Richmond Collingwood	43 (156) 97 (371) 140 (527)
1 Playing statistics to end of 1990 season .
Career highlights
Richmond leading goalkicker 1982, 1984 Collingwood leading goalkicker 1985–1989 Coleman Medal 1986

Brian Taylor (born 10 April 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer and now AFL commentator on the Seven Network. He played with both Richmond and Collingwood during the 1980s.

Taylor was only 16 when recruited from Mandurah, Western Australia, to the Richmond Football Club.

Playing career

The moustached Taylor, known as "BT" and "Bristle", began his VFL career with Richmond in 1980, and had the misfortune of being a full-forward at the same club as the legendary Michael Roach. It was for this reason that he was left out of the 1980 Grand Final team, and he eventually left the Tigers at the end of the 1984 season, having played 43 games and kicking 156 goals. His height was 191cms and his weight was 102 kg.

In 1985, Taylor joined Collingwood and quickly became a favourite. He kicked 100 goals in 1986 to win the Coleman Medal, the highlight of his career. Due to repeated knee injuries, Taylor retired from playing in the AFL at the end of the 1990 season at only 28 years of age. He had played 97 games for the Magpies, kicking 371 goals.

In 1991 Taylor became playing coach of Prahran in the VFA, taking the club to the finals. In 1992, after he had kicked 16 and 9 goals in the opening two rounds, Taylor's knee finally gave way and he retired from playing. Continuing as Coach, he again took the Two Blues to the finals. Taylor retired as coach after the 1993 season.

Post-playing career

On radio, Taylor was the lead commentator for the high rating Triple M commentary team until 2009; Taylor's banter with his fellow commentators and enthusiasm added to his popularity. In 2010, Taylor joined 3AW's football commentary team, replacing Rex Hunt who had moved to Triple M to call football on Saturday afternoons.

On television, Taylor was an AFL commentator for the Nine Network until the station lost broadcasting rights in 2007 to Seven Network. He remained with the station as a panellist on the The Sunday Footy Show until 2010 whilst also being the host of AFL Teams on Foxtel, and calling the Sunday afternoon or twilight match on Fox Sports.

It was announced in July 2011 that Taylor will call Saturday night matches for the Seven Network from the 2012 to 2016 seasons as part of its expanded coverage.

Taylor will continue to call all Friday night and selected Saturday afternoon games for 3AW in 2012, subject to commitments with the Seven Network.

External links

• Brian Taylor (Australian footballer)'s statistics from AFL Tables

Preceded by Simon Beasley

Coleman Medallist 1986

Succeeded by Tony Lockett