One of the lesser known faces in the SUNS’ inaugural AFLW coaching panel, John Taylor has an unrivalled knowledge of local football development over his fellow coaches.

The AFLW forwards coach has 35 years of coaching experience which will prove invaluable to the club’s women’s program.

Taylor grew up playing all his football at north Brisbane club Zillmere, before transitioning into development coaching. 

He oversaw high performance programs with 15, 16 and 17-year-old boys before switching to women’s coaching.

He spent time with the Brisbane Lions female Academy before earning a coaching role in the Winter Series in 2018 with the Lions.

That was where he first met SUNS AFLW Senior Coach David Lake, and the rest is history.

Speaking to SUNS Media after being announced as one of four AFLW assistant coaches for 2020, Taylor said it takes a very different approach when coaching girls opposed to boys.

“The boys I suppose mainly have a lot more history and experience in it where the girls are fairly new,” Taylor told SUNS Media.

“What’s really exciting about the girls is their enthusiasm and willingness to learn. 

“They really like to get out there and get amongst it and their commitment and effort is 100%.”

Taylor said his new role was a fantastic opportunity to lay a foundation for the club to build in years to come.

“(The women) are fairly new at the game and everything so I suppose the reward for myself is you see that growth and them out there trying to improve and trying to do the things you’ve been coaching,” Taylor said.

“You really feed off that.

“I’m looking forward to it now that we’re really getting into the serious part of things so it was a really good platform to set from.”

Taylor assisted David Lake in the 2019 QW Winter Series and will join the coaching group for pre-season training when it begins on November 25.