As one of football’s meticulous thinkers Harry Taylor emerged with one incontrovertible fact after taking two months to digest his 2014 season.

“I just couldn’t get any consistency within games or week-to-week and despite having a few nice periods, I wish I could have had more influence,” the dual All Australian said.

“In the end the game is about influencing it as an individual and I just didn’t do that often enough to help the team.

“It’s funny because looking back I thought my year was a pretty good reflection of how the team went because I only played well in patches.”

While the relevance of statistics for defenders can be easily skewed given the prime objective is to nullify opponents, Taylor’s 352 total disposals were the fewest since his rookie year in 2008, his contested marks (31) were the lowest in five years, while he managed just two goals after kicking 15 in each of the past two seasons. 

Rebound 50s, contested possessions and general marks were all down on the stellar numbers recorded in 2013.

Defensively Taylor was strong but for a player that prides himself on two-way output, simply beating a man is not enough. He says heightened game planning by oppositions to dampen his effectiveness was a factor and acknowledges it’s another challenge he will have to overcome.

“My goals is to be more influential across quarters, games and ultimately the season,” he said.

“To be doing that you’ve got to stay involved in the game and that’s an area I’ll work on over summer with the coaches to achieve that.

“At times last year I’d almost have a tag on me or a player wanting to take me out of the contest but you have to work around that.”

Having returned to pre-season 4kg lighter and in the best December shape of his career after completing an off-season running program under the watchful eye of running coach Steven Lewry, the 28-year-old is taking a different track to the one trod in previous summers.

Game-intensity burst training has been replaced with a more endurance-based program as the Western Australian looks to rectify last season’s second-half fade-outs.

“I’ve tried to work on my efficiency because in the past I’ve been one who gets the head wobbles when I get tired,” he said.

“Its been all about game-intensity training in the past and I’ve thought that was the best thing for me but I’ve gone down a slightly different track this time around.

“I feel I’ve been fit enough but I can improve and to achieve that I’ve had to change my thinking and philosophy.”

It’s a challenge the veteran, who says he can’t remember missing a session in eight pre-seasons, is relishing.

“I like to see how far I can push myself and what the mind is willing to let you do and what lengths it will let you go to,” he said.

Another layer to pre-season is the impending birth of he and wife Michelle’s third child. With James, four, and Isabel, two, already making the key defender time poor, finding a life-football balance will be tested for a player who prides himself on professionalism.

Having played 21 or more games in each of his seven seasons since bursting onto the scene as a 21-year-old in 2008, Taylor is a critical cog in the club’s wheel, but points to Cam Guthrie and Mark Blicavs as potential game shapers.

While developing the next generation will underpin the club’s future, short-term success is dependent on a more rigid game style.

Since 2012 the Cats are 1-5 in finals despite two top four finishes. The sole finals victory was a come-from-behind win over a young Port Adelaide outfit in the 2013 semi-final.

“That’s disappointing from my perspective,” Taylor said.

“It stings to be so good in the season and fail when it counts.

“There were certainly occasions last year when I thought we won some games purely on determination and individual acts but that’s not something that is sustainable across a season. It’s nice but it has to be accompanied by a structure.

“When you’ve got the two together that’s when you become pretty hard to beat.”

After starting the year with five wins last season the Cats were outscored in the second half in 13 of the remaining 19 matches.

In five second-halves against Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney the side was outscored 49.37 to 25.24.

The Cats appointed former Wallabies strength and conditioning coach Scott Murphy in November to replace Kris Hinck and Chris Spinks who were moved on soon after the side’s straight sets finals exit.

For the first time in a long time the Cats off-field changes were dwarfed by the on-field ones, with 10 players traded or delisted and replaced with a host of draftees and recycled recruits Mitch Clark, Sam Blease, Rhys Stanley and Cam Delaney.

Taylor says its incumbent on the club’s leaders to ensure a smooth transition but adds the nucleus remains at the heartbeat of next season’s push.

“I think we’re still in a strong position and we’ve got some of the most determined people at this footy club that I’ve ever met. As long as those people are here the club will be in a good spot.”

Taylor, perhaps, is top of the list.