Lewis Taylor pays tribute to coach Chris Fagan for helping turn his career around

[Ulquiorra]

IT says a lot about Chris Fagan’s one-on-one approach with his players that among his most improved pupils is a former Rising Star winner.

Lewis Taylor plays his 100th game against Carlton on Saturday, a milestone it appeared only injury could deny him when he burst onto the scene when he won the award in 2014.

However, this time two years ago, he was out-of-contract and unable to come to terms with the Lions as his form floundered.

His future was up in the air as he wore criticism for his lack of defensive pressure, and he bewildered coaching staff and fans when he had the ball in hand.

Taylor appeared to second guess himself and his foot skills, and as a result seemed to run in circles waiting for an option to open up.

When Fagan arrived at the end of 2016 he sat down with every Lions player individually, and that first meeting with Taylor changed everything for the livewire small forward.

Before Fagan arrived, Brisbane had a set plan for ball movement that confused the Lions players and was easily defended by opposition who sat back and waited for turnovers.

Now they defend to a plan and attack on instinct, and Taylor is flourishing.

“I had a really good pre-season and spoke with ‘Fages’ about where I could improve,” Taylor said.

“It just got back to what I could do best and that was to play some footy. It was great that he sat down one-on-one with every player.

“If you see an option, hit it, there’s no set structure with offence, just play footy and hit what you can and take the easy option.

“I felt like that was very helpful to me to just go out there and play.”

Taylor turned things around almost immediately, finishing seventh in the club’s best and fairest last year after a 17-goal season where he averaged close to 20 disposals.

He has continued the solid form this season to be again among the Lions most consistent.

If the mass departure at the end of 2013 of a group called the “go home five” led by West Coast’s Elliot Yeo and Carlton’s Sam Docherty was a low point for the Lions, the following year’s draft has more than filled the hole they left.

Taylor, flatmate Darcy Gardiner, key forward Dan McStay are all key players for the Lions, Tom Cutler has cemented himself of late and Nick Robertson is a Fagan favourite who, although he may give is coach headaches with his ball use at times, is one of the club’s most competitive.

— There will be a familiar name running around for the Lions on Saturday when Casey Voss, son of triple premiership captain Michael makes his NEAFL debut against Southport.