It was a fitting tribute to an old friend when Harry Taylor celebrated his second quarter goal in yesterday’s clash with the Hawks with a signal to the sky.

Taylor paid tribute to Peter Burnett, former club director and owner of the Lord of the Isles pub in Geelong, who passed away last week.

In an interview with Triple M’s Hot Breakfast this morning Taylor ran through the goal celebration with Eddie McGuire, Luke Darcy and Wil Anderson.

“Peter Burnett, who unfortunately passed away very recently, was a massive supporter of our football club and held various roles within the club. He put on Mad Monday for the boys for I think over 30 years at the Lord of the Isles pub, which he owned.

“(Burnett) was always so welcoming of everyone’s families particularly the interstate boys who would bring parents and sisters and brothers and things over. We’d go there for a meal and he’d always make sure he’d look after you.”

Following his shot on goal Taylor looked to the sky and mimicked having drink, something he had done with Burnett on a number of occasions.

“He did love a beer. I’ve never met anyone who loved a beer more than him. It was just a fitting tribute to try and sort of have one with him wherever he may be now.”

Taylor, now in his twelfth season at the club, has played in a number of Easter Monday clashes against the Hawks and said yesterday’s game was just another example of the two club’s great rivalry.

“It’s a really rich rivalry between us and the Hawks. It goes back a fair way now and there’s been some epic contests. I think another chapter was written yesterday with another high scoring game a lot of intensity, some ebbs and flows and just a fantastic rivalry for all the supporters to get around, not only Geelong and Hawthorn supporters but I think football fans in general.”

Taylor was complimentary of one of his teammates in particular, praising the efforts of Gary Ablett who kicked three goals and was one of the Cats best players.

“You sometimes have to remove yourself from the game situation and just be a fan like everyone else. I grew up idolising his Dad and watching him do similar things in a similar part of the ground and now get the opportunity to play with his son and see him doing the same things. It is pretty remarkable and certainly something that I’ll hold dear to myself when I finish my career and tell plenty of stories about.”

The 23-point win yesterday puts the Cats on the top of the ladder after five rounds following an exceptional start to the season. The Cats will have another tough game this weekend when they play last year’s premiers West Coast on Sunday at GMHBA Stadium. 

“We knew the start of the season was going to be really big for us. We’ve got West Coast coming up this week so a really big test for us. There’s no point hiding away from it. The tough runs you just have to embrace so that’s what we’ve tried to do as a group.”