Taylor the latest target in press corps' pursuit of the Tall Poppy

Tall Poppy Syndrome is alive and sniping among members of Australia's sporting press corps.

The scenario goes something like this: the country's top sportsmen are praised to the point of hyperbole, their reputations cultivated with wonderfully worded articles and their egos buffed and polished.

Then, just when they feel good about themselves and approach the sports pages with pleasure rather than trepidation, a few stories start appearing which question some aspect of the stars' performances.

The commentaries become increasingly frequent and increasingly nastier in content to the point where the hero is depicted as a no-hoper, a fraud, a waster, a money-grabber or a has-been. The Tall Poppy is ready to be felled.

In recent times golfer Greg Norman and rugby union winger David Campese have been targeted for the Tall Poppy treatment.

In monetary terms, Norman is the most successful Australian sportsman of the moment. He has had a few spectacular collapses but the Australian public still love him for his blond good looks, his swaggering ways and his undoubted talent.

There was a time when the Australian press adored him as well but the Great White Shark is no longer dish of the day.