Collingwood FC Urged to Seal Deal for ‘Special Talent’ Sam Taylor in Major Defensive Coup
Melbourne, June 24, 2025 — Collingwood Football Club is being urged by pundits and fans alike to pull out all the stops to secure the signature of Greater Western Sydney’s star defender Sam Taylor, with growing belief that the 24-year-old could be the missing piece in the Magpies’ quest to reclaim premiership glory.
Taylor, a 2022 All-Australian and widely regarded as one of the most elite intercept defenders in the competition, has emerged as Collingwood’s top transfer target ahead of the 2026 AFL season. With the Pies facing defensive injuries and inconsistent form across the back six, calls are growing louder for the club to make a bold play for the GWS stalwart, who comes off contract at the end of the season.
“Sam Taylor is not just a great player — he’s a game-changer,” former Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell said on SEN. “He reads the play better than almost anyone in the league and brings a level of composure and leadership that this Collingwood side desperately needs down back. If they can bring him in, it changes everything.”
Taylor has reportedly attracted interest from multiple Victorian clubs, but it’s Collingwood’s reputation, premiership ambitions, and the prospect of playing in front of the massive Magpie Army that are believed to appeal most to the West Australian.
Sources close to the club suggest list management is preparing a lucrative long-term offer to tempt Taylor to make the switch south. The deal is expected to make him one of the highest-paid defenders in the AFL, but insiders say it’s the role — not just the money — that could convince him.
Collingwood’s current defensive unit has shown promise but lacked the elite lockdown capability and intercept presence that Taylor brings. While Darcy Moore remains a crucial pillar, injuries and inconsistent form from others have exposed the Magpies in key moments this season.
Taylor’s potential arrival could allow Moore to play a more aggressive, rebound-focused role, while giving the side a genuine shutdown option for the league’s top forwards. The strategic implications are significant — and the fanbase knows it.
“Can you imagine Moore and Taylor together in that backline? That’s a premiership pairing,” said one passionate Collingwood supporter on social media. “This is the kind of move that separates contenders from champions.”
GWS coach Adam Kingsley has played down the speculation, insisting Taylor remains committed to the Giants’ long-term plans. But as the season wears on and pressure mounts, Taylor’s future is shaping as one of the hottest talking points of the trade period.
With Collingwood firmly in the premiership window and Taylor entering his prime, the stars may be aligning for what could become the blockbuster deal of the off-season.
Whether the Magpies can fend off rival suitors and land their ‘special talent’ remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: the Collingwood faithful are dreaming big, and Sam Taylor is right at the centre of it.
