After sharing the ruck responsibilities with Robert Campbell for most of the 2007 and 2008 seasons, he was overlooked for the 2008 AFL Grand Final, with the backup ruck position being taken by Brent Renouf.[2] In 2009, he played 18 games, more than Campbell or Renouf, but was not as effective as earlier years, leading the Hawks to look to recruit a ruckman to replace Campbell who retired due to injury.[3]
Taylor broke his ankle during a pre-season game against North Melbourne, he missed most of the 2010 season.
Because of persistent niggling injuries and never really demonstrating the qualities that were expected of him through his career, he was delisted from the club on 19 October 2010, along with fellow ruckman Wayde Skipper[4]