AFL 2022: GWS Giants defender Sam Taylor wins his first Kevin Sheedy Medal as club champion

Sam Taylor’s rise to bona fide star is complete.

After being selected in the All-Australian team for the first time on Wednesday night, the 23-year-old is also this year’s Kevin Sheedy medallist as the Giants’ club champion.

The key defender polled in all bar three games, snatching the lead after round 18 and storming away to win with 156 votes, from resurgent co-captain Stephen Coniglio (108) and fast-starter Tom Green (104).

Forward-turned-defender Harry Himmelberg (99) and Jesse Hogan (91), who finished second in the club’s goalkicking to Toby Greene with 35, rounded out the top five.

Taylor’s career-best season including leading the AFL in total and per-game intercepts, ranking second in spoils and averaging a personal-high 15.2 disposals.

All while being responsible for the opposition’s best forward most weeks.

Greater Western Sydney’s general manager of football, Jason McCartney, hailed Taylor’s contribution under duress this year.

“This is a wonderful effort by Sam and a much-deserved reward for an outstanding season,” McCartney said.

“We’ve always known he’s an incredibly hard-working and skilful player but what he’s been able to achieve this season is nothing short of remarkable, particularly given the amount of work our backline had to do.

“Sam has rare competitiveness, even by professional footballers’ standards. This season we’ve seen him step up to lead the backline and his growth and maturity has been fantastic to watch.

“We’re proud of the player and person he’s become and look forward to his continued development over the coming seasons.”

Taylor, who signed an extension until 2025 in August last year, is one of the Giants’ shrewdest recent selections, being snapped up out of Western Australia with the 28th pick in the 2017 draft.

He is now two years removed from his battle with septic arthritis, a rare infection that attacked his hip, hospitalised him for two weeks, left him on a drip for a month and cut 11kg from his frame.

Taylor struggled to walk properly for almost three months and missed the rest of the 2020 season after symptoms developed rapidly following a round 4 win over Collingwood.

He made a triumphant return in round 1 last year and enjoyed a strong season, including a standout display against Geelong forward Tom Hawkins, before going to a new level in 2022.

KEVIN SHEEDY MEDAL TOP 10

1. Sam Taylor (156 votes) 2. Stephen Coniglio (108) 3. Tom Green (104) 4. Harry Himmelberg (99) 5. Jesse Hogan (93) 6. Harry Perryman (91) 7. Toby Greene (90) 8. Josh Kelly (89) 9. Isaac Cumming (86) 10. Callan Ward (79)

AWARD WINNERS

Rising Star Award: Jacob Wehr

Academy Player of the Year: Harry Rowston

VFL Player of the Year: Jarrod Brander

Members Choice Award: Tom Green

Mark of the Year: Toby Greene (Round 19 v Carlton)

Goal of the Year: Josh Kelly (Round 18 v Brisbane)

Leading Goalkicker: Toby Greene (37)

Coaches Award: Harry Perryman

Staff Member of the Year: Anthony Badman

PAST WINNERS

2021: Josh Kelly

2020: Nick Haynes and Lachie Whitfield

2019: Tim Taranto

2018: Lachie Whitfield

2017: Josh Kelly

2016: Toby Greene

2015: Heath Shaw

2014: Shane Mumford

2013: Jeremy Cameron

2012: Callan Ward