Brian Taylor and angry school parent clash over son’s basketball minutes

AFL identity Brian Taylor is at the centre of an ugly spat involving a school basketball team.

The former Collingwood and Richmond forward, who coaches an under-14s side at Assumption College, has been accused by an angry parent of benching his son for all but four minutes of a recent game.

Rod Bryar told Neil Mitchell he confronted Taylor at the end of the game about the matter.

‘He basically told me to **** off and mind my own business,’ Mr Bryar said.

‘I thought my son’s education and sport was my business?

‘I contacted the school and was told by the deputy principal that it was in the ‘best interests’ of the team, which was quite dumbfounding.’

Click PLAY below to hear Rod Bryar’s version of events…

Mr Bryar said at 14, the focus should be on getting kids active, not winning.

‘I’m doing my best to get my kids involved in sport and to have a coach with a win at all costs attitude is astounding,’ he said on 3AW Mornings.

Taylor declined to speak on air about the issue, but disputed several points Mr Bryar made.

And so did the school.

Assumption College principal Kate Fogarty backed Taylor’s version of events and said he had the school’s ‘full support.’

Ms Fogarty said it was a ‘complex’ issue.

‘We have no concerns about the way Brian conducted himself,’ she said. 

Click PLAY below to Assumption College’s principal on 3AW Mornings