The Northcote captain followed the lead of Brenton McDonald who won the award in 2012-13.

Taylor, of Holbrook, said he was surprised to top the count despite scoring 513 runs and taking 22 wickets.

“It’s been a whirlwind couple of days,” Taylor said.

“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet.

“The Northcote boys have certainly made it one to remember.

“I got an invite and thought I must have been a chance to make the Team of the Year.

“I was fortunate enough to make that side so I decided to make full use of the bar tab.

“We got to round 12 and I was leading; it was about that time I decided to get a few waters into me.

“To walk away with the Ryder Medal is mind-blowing to be honest.

“My head is still spinning.”

Taylor had several big games where he polled maximum votes, including against Footscray-Edgewater where he made 114 and 2-35, 66 and 3-20 against Prahran and 78 in the Dragons’ clash with Geelong. 

The 24-year-old arrived at Northcote from Lavington in 2010-11 and led the club into this year’s finals series.

Taylor has played 80 first grade matches, scoring three centuries and 10 fifties.

He finished two votes clear of Fitzroy-Doncaster’s Trent Lawford and Ringwood’s David King.

Former Wangaratta player Simon Hill finished sixth in the count.

Taylor’s win puts him in elite company with Test cricketers Keith Stackpole, Carl Hooper and Abdul Qadir among the former winners of the medal.

Taylor will leave for the UK on Tuesday to play with Mildenhall in the Two Counties Cricket Championship.

Taylor’s win capped off a big season for Border cricketers with North Alburys Joe Loorham playing in Ringwood’s losing grand final side against Fitzroy-Doncaster.