YOU DON'T have to be Einstein to predict Geelong will play Harry Taylor back against Essendon on Saturday night at the MCG.

With Lachie Henderson missing through injury and Aaron Black omitted for ruckman Zac Smith, chances are Rhys Stanley will play a forward role.

This would push Taylor back to deal with a Bombers' forward line that includes Joe Daniher, James Stewart and a fellow swingman in Cale Hooker.

Geelong coach Chris Scott admitted as much when he playfully avoided the question on Friday morning.

"I would probably answer differently if the opposition coach [John Worsfold] wasn't sitting next to me," Scott said.

"He's pretty smart. I think he has got a fair idea of what is coming."

When Worsfold was asked where he thought Taylor would play, he asked with a smirk for some thinking time.

The more interesting question is whether the circumstances surrounding this week's game are a one-off, or signal the end of the Taylor forward experiment.

Geelong does not close itself off to any option as a rule and nor should it, so don't expect any such declaration. But so far, Taylor hasn't prospered in the position.

He has kicked just two goals, while his average marks per game have dropped below six for the first time since 2009.

While Taylor has taken some heat off Tom Hawkins and Daniel Menzel, allowing them more one-on-one contests and therefore more goal-scoring opportunities, that duo has also been helped by a more open forward line due to the Cats defending deeper and having a more choreographed build-up to going inside 50 than they did last season.

Taylor has still had a higher percentage of his possessions in the defensive 50 than he has in the forward 50 this season, showing he pushes behind the ball regularly, yet he has not had the same influence on games as he did when an All-Australian defender.

As selfless as Taylor is, he would be remarkably resilient to not let such numbers affect him at all.

If he does sit back on Saturday night, as appears likely, will it be a step forward for Geelong in 2017?