AFL Draft bolter Oskar Taylor has credited a growth in confidence to his breakout 2025 campaign.
A largely unknown prospect entering 2025, Taylor now looms as a potential first-rounder at November’s AFL Draft and is regarded as having one of the best kicks in the draft class.
The left footer blends his potent ball use with a sound defensive game, and has been backed in by the Eastern Ranges to play to his growing strengths throughout 2025.
Despite being overlooked for Vic Metro, the composed playmaker averaged 21 possessions through 16 games at the Coates Talent League level through 2025, with his game-breaking ability a product of his unwavering self-belief
“It was a great opportunity to play the whole year,” Taylor told Craft of the Draft.
“Last year I only played five games at the back end of the year, and it was just great to find confidence with each game, and just build with every game I played.
“I just had confidence in myself, so I always knew that I had it in me, I just didn’t get to show it as much during (2024).”
Tied into his strong mindset is the confidence the South Belgrave product has with every passage of play, given a licence to use his creative ball-use, run and daring counterattack.
A clear and present mindset has propelled him to new heights and unlocked consistency with his offensive game.
“I think for me, I probably just try to not worry about it too much if I mess up a kick or something,” Taylor said.
“I’m a big cricket cricketer. A batter growing up, and if you make a bad decision, you’re out.
“You can’t really, you know, do anything else about it: you just walk off.
“But, with footy, you could be involved in the next five seconds after you make a mistake.
“So I think for me, just not to focus on it too much, because you’ve got another opportunity to be involved in a few seconds time.”
Taylor built his strength and conditioning at South East Fitness Solutions across pre-season, which enabled him to better match it with opponents at Coates Talent League level, while three senior games for Eastern Football League powerhouse South Belgrave also highlighted his increased physicality.
“Obviously my primary role as a defender is to defend first, and I was pretty pleased with the way I won most of my one one-on-ones. I was able to attack when I had the chance,” Taylor said.
A key piece of Eastern Ranges run to the 2025 Coates Talent League premiership, he shared the backline with top-10 prospect Xavier Taylor, tapping into his knowledge, which enabled Oskar to build his case to be drafted.
The mild silver lining of Taylor missing the U18s National Championships was that he was able to build selection continuity, which was a factor behind his form spike.
The teenager had some clubs believing he was a potential first-rounder as early as June, and he found another level when representative players and schoolboys returned to the Coates Talent League, cementing his status as a player whose name could be read out on the first night of the AFL Draft.
“I think for me, I just tried to become as big a leader as I could,” Taylor said.
“Probably growing up, I had captained a few sides, but I was probably a bit more quiet than a few other boys.
“So I think while a few boys went missing (with commitments to) Metro, I tried to dial in and try to be the best leader I could.”
