It may well be the last time Geelong call upon Harry Taylor to shut down an opposition key forward, so it's no surprise the veteran wants to go one-on-one with Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch in Saturday's AFL grand final.
The 34-year-old has put his hand up to go to Lynch at the Gabba after a finals series where Charlie Dixon failed to take a mark against the wily campaigner and Mason Cox and Eric Hipwood were both sent packing.
Now, in what looms as the final match of his 13-year career, Taylor is itching to be given the task of shutting down Lynch.
"I'd love to do it. I'm not sure just yet. I just saw Scarlo (defensive coach Matthew Scarlett) briefly before," Taylor said.
"We didn't chat about footy specifically but I guess over the next couple of days he'll have his opinions, I'll have mine and I'm sure Scotty (head coach Chris Scott) will have his as well and we'll work out what it looks like.
"I love playing on the best players in the game and he's certainly for me one of the best players and an absolute star of the competition at the moment."
Taylor borrowed a baseball phrase to describe Lynch as a "five-tool player", someone who can fill almost any role in the forward line.
"He's just got a physical presence. He's strong, he's athletic," Taylor said.
"He can do everything that you require of a forward.
"Kicks goals when he needs to. Takes a good mark. Puts defensive pressure on.
"In baseball sometimes they talk about hitting with power, hitting to position and they're also great fielders and he sort of reminds me so much of a five-tool in terms of all the things he brings to their forward line."
Saturday's game will be the fourth grand final of Taylor's career.
He played a grand final in his first season in 2008 and won the 2009 and 2011 flags with the Cats.
Whether or not he secures a third premiership, Taylor insists his playing future remains undecided.
"I said last year to myself and to you blokes as well that I was going to approach that year, particularly the last part, and enjoy every single training session, every single game, all those moments and not think had we won or had we got knocked out at a certain point, that would be something that would dictate my decision," he said.
"That'll be the same this year as well.
"Should we win, should we lose, that won't be something I use to dictate what happens next year.
"Just go out enjoy every single moment ... the game itself will be magic. I want to enjoy that."
Australian Associated Press
