Stawell young gun Ben Taylor is on the move to South Australia after joining the North Adelaide Roosters for the 2021 SANFL season.
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The 22 year-old inside midfielder will leave town on Monday as he chases his dream of playing at the highest level.
After spending time playing for the Swifts Football Club, Navarre Football Club and the Stawell Warriors through the junior and senior ranks, Taylor is now hoping this opportunity in the SANFL will lead him towards his dreams.
"I definitely want to try and make it to the highest level I possibly can," he said.
"I don't just want to have one crack it this year, I want to play consistently at the highest level I can.
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I am always aiming to be the best I can and ultimately trying to make it to the AFL I guess and there's a lot pathways with other clubs that can also come from playing at a club like this too."
Taylor is on the mend after arthroscopic hip surgery, but he said is looking forward to joining the squad and settling in to his new home.
"I think the way they play over there is more suited to my game style, it is a lot more contested and has bigger bodies, whereas in the NEAFL there was more outside play," he said.
"During the preseason I got a bit of an injury and I had to have surgery about eight weeks ago, so I am doing a bit of rehab on and I am looking forward to going over to Adelaide and continuing my rehab and then I can get stuck into it.
"They started their pre-season in the first week of January so I'll get over there, settle in a bit, and team up with the physios and strength and conditioning staff to do my rehab and then I can get started running and kicking soon hopefully."
Taylor joined the St Mary's Football Club in the Northern Territory Football League in 2018, and after some impressive performances, he earnt a place with the state's NEAFL side, the NT Thunder.
"I was living with the cousins of the Rioli's who play in the AFL (Cyril and Daniel) and one of their cousins Shannon is the captain of the NT Thunder and he asked me if I would be interested in having a go at state league level," he said.
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"It was pretty quick and you can get exposed if you don't play defense, so it was a big step up.
But going to Adelaide now, I know what it is like at that level and I can adapt myself for what I'm going to face over there."
Taylor was planning on playing for the Ararat Rats in the Wimmera Football League in 2020, but the season was cancelled.
He was then contacted by his former NT Thunder coach Darren Reaves, who is the North Adelaide reserves coach and an assistant with the senior side, and was invited to join the club for 2021.
"I think I am more educated on the game now, and going to over the Adelaide this year I think will help fit my game style a lot better," Taylor said.
"Having not played for a year, and coming off surgery it will be a challenge and I am rolling the dice, but I am really looking forward to it."
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