Harry Taylor tops GNFL goal charts with 12-goal haul, Rams make second semi

In another milestone for a career that has been full of them, Harry Taylor has blasted his way to the top of the Great Northern Football League goal scoring charts.

The two-time AFL premiership winner booted 12 goals on Saturday to take his season haul to 83 as Northampton beat Towns by 26 goals at Purcher International Oval.

Playing coach Beau Walker praised his side’s contributions on the scoresheet as the Rams kicked 26.20 (176) to the Bulldogs’ 2.5 (17), sealing second place and laying down a marker ahead of a second semifinal against minor premiers Brigades.

Walker said it was a good opportunity to “get an even spread of contributors and fine-tune a couple of things’’.

“He’s (Taylor) having a good year since we put him forward,” he said. “He provides a good target for us and we’ve started to deliver it better to him over the last couple of weeks and to our other forwards. Brigades are going to be a tough opponent.”

Walker chipped in with three goals of his own and Harrison Pluschke, Nathaniel Mourambine and Michael Wright each added two.

A total of 10 players scored.

Taylor was also best afield.

Taylor out-kicked his nearest rival, Brigades’ Dale Williamson, by 17 goals in the home-and-away season.

Making Taylor’s goal kicking exploits even more impressive was the fact he started the season in a more familiar role further back.

Walker shifted him up forward after the first few rounds.

Williamson is 16 goals shy of the all-time league goal kicking record (Dale Baynes with 780), but sat out the last few rounds with injury.

He was back for the Hawks in their game on Saturday as they went into the final round with the minor premiership already won, kicking six.

The Hawks defeated Railways 15.8 (98) to 11.10 (76) at home.

Northampton won the women’s minor premiership ahead of Chapman Valley with a win against Towns, 8.9 (57) to 3.6 (24).