TSLW: Blues captain Dearne Taylor continues tradition

With last year's skipper Ashlee Carey stuck in Queensland for the past few months, the Blues have handed on the baton to their 24-year-old midfield warrior for season 2020.

"It was actually a massive surprise to me," Taylor said.

"I didn't know I was being selected as captain so when [coach Ange Dickson] announced it I was very surprised, but it's a massive honour - I'm pretty stoked to be captain this year."

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Taylor's speedy ascension through the state's women's ranks comes as the continuation of a stellar family record.

Her father Michael was a multi-premiership player for Scottsdale, while uncle Anthony is South Launceston's senior coach and famously led Launceston to State League success in 2011.

Taylor's brother Matthew - another former Scottsdale and Launceston player - has led Bridport's goalkicking the past two seasons while sister Cara Howlett was a teammate in Scottsdale's 2017 TWL North flag.

"I've been playing netball for years, since I was probably around six years old," Taylor said.

"My sister actually joined the Scottsdale club, as I'm originally from Bridport, and she asked me to come along in 2016 just to have a go.

"I played the year with Scottsdale and I was approached by one of the coaches from Launceston to come and have a go at that level and I did and I've been there ever since.

"It was a great opportunity and I'm glad that I took that next step because the girls are awesome."

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Dickson said Taylor had been an irresistible choice for captain after showing strong leadership during a tough pre-season.

"Dearne's been with us now for a few years and she really stood up this year," Dickson said.

"Unfortunately due to COVID [Carey] has been stuck in Queensland for the last few months and hasn't been able to get around training so we decided to make that change and have someone who was present and in the state.

"Dearne was a pretty obvious choice from the word go this year, she's somebody who brings a really positive attitude and leads from the front in what she does."

Dickson described her fellow midfielder as a model trainer with a heart for her teammates.

"She gives her all at every training, she'll make sure she gets around everybody, always introduces herself and all of those kind of things and it's those little things as well behind the scenes.

"Through the pre-season she was messaging a lot of the girls to make sure they were getting along to training and seeing how they were going and things like that, so she really stood up.

"At the end when it came down to picking who was going to captain the team she was well and truly the standout."

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