Toast 2009 Carlton Board POTY - FINAL LEADERBOARD

[blues4flag]

Sorry about not updating it in the past fortnight - the lacklustre results plus uni assessment kept me from it.

That said, your votes have been tallied and we have ourselves the first (as far as I'm aware) Carlton Board Player of the Year.

For those who haven't been following, the weekly votes from posters were tallied and the top 5 awarded 5-1 (look at the thread in my sig).

Let me tell you, it was an absolute cracker - but I'll leave you in suspense as to who the winner is and work my way from the bottom up.

THE ALSO RANS:

8	Eddie Betts
8	Richard Hadley
7	Jordan Russell
7	Andrew Carrazzo
5	Shaun Grigg
5	Ryan Houlihan
3	Jeff Garlett
3	Setanta O'hAilpin
2	Simon Wiggins
2	Micheal Jamison
2	Andrew Walker
1	Brad Fisher
1	Dennis Armfield
1	Shaun Hampson

 

[blues4flag]

Aaron Joseph - 11

The tenacious, fast and incredibly agile tagger has come out of nowhere in season 09, to play all 22 games, cement his place as our best tagger in years and be regarded by Gary Ablett as his most formidable tagger. As a 19/20 year old rookie listed player. Hopefully he'll develop the attacking side of his game that he's shown glimpses while keeping his brilliant defensive ability as he matures as a player.


Nick Stevens - 12

Finishing 10th in the B&F count, Nick Stevens has had a much maligned season 09 - so badly was he out of form that he spent a month in the VFL for the first time in his career. However he came back and reminded us all just how valuable a player he can be, particularly ahead of centre, kicking 8 goals in the last 6 weeks (after only 4 in the first 13). He'll be 30 next season and isn't the player he once was. Needs to work very hard to ensure his fitness doesn't drop off again though could still be a valuable contributor to the side.


Bret Thornton - 12

Having arguably his best season in his 8 season, 149 game career, Thornton was free to play as a third tall for the majority of the season and flourished. His excellent marking ability and reading of the play allowed him to cut off thrust after thrust of opposition forward thrusts. He averaged a career high 19 touches and also doubled his career goals tally, kicking 2 vs. North. While he was forced to play a more defensive role towards the end of the season, with a full defence he'll be fit to play the role that suits him best.

 

[blues4flag]

Jarrad Waite - 16

Jarrad Waite remarkably finished 8th despite playing only the 8 full games, having been injured early vs the Crows. His early season form was so good that very well could have been named AA CHB. He averaged 22 touches and kicked an excellent 10 goals despite playing predominantly in defence. His vertical leap allows him to mark/spoil balls that most other defenders can only dream off, his athleticism makes him very damaging with ball in hand, both out of defence and on the wing and also makes him very dangerous up forward. Clearly one of our best and most important, I cannot waite to regain him in 2010.


Paul Bower - 17

The startled emu continues to look more and more composed at AFL level, finish 7th in the count. He was excellent earlier in the season, flourishing playing alongside Thornton, Waite and Jamison, racking up the footy and doing who knows what with it, though more often than not it came off. Unfortunately, a knee injury hampered him towards the end of the season, while injuries to Waite and Jamison forced him to play on the opposition's best forwards with little support. With a full defence and no injury problems, expect him to flourish in 2010 and continue his development into one of the game's best young defenders.


Matthew Kreuzer - 18

KREUZ! How impressive is this kid? As a second year player, he was forced to hold down the number 1 ruck spot and did it amazingly well, finishing 6th in the count. Can't think of another ruckman who performed as well he has at 20. Amazingly agile for a big man, as illustrated by the great goal he kicked against Geelong, he also shows huge promise up forward and if Warnock can get his body right, he might just be the second tall we've been looking for. Playing in the ruck all season took it's toll on him as he looked tired towards the end of the season, though he still managed to average 14 touches and 17 hitouts. Who knows where he'll be once he is fully developed?

 

[blues4flag]

5. Kade Simpson - 19

One of my favourites- can never question his courage. Arguably his best season to date, averaging 21 touches and kicking 15 goals, Simpson has become somewhat of a barometre to the Carlton side. When he plays well, breaking the lines, pumping it long and kicking goals on his one good leg, you can generally bet that Carlton is on top. Many want to see him named vice captain in 2010 and he's a player you'd think would flourish with added responsibility, judging by his form as acting captain in 2007. He's a player I expect to see improve as the team improve.

4. Brendan Fevola - 33

While he gets a harder rap than any other player in the competition, Fev's last two seasons have clearly been his best. Kicking 86 goals and winning his second Coleman Medal, Fevola will most likely receive his third AA selection on Monday. He finished a clear 4th, 14 votes ahead of Simpson.

While his season was hampered early with an injured heel and the inaccuracy and lack of confidence that resulted, his numbers in 09 show he's winning more of the footy than ever, while contrary to perception, he tackles more than any other key forward in the game. He finished the season in excellent form, polling 20 of his 33 votes in the last 9 rounds.

3. Bryce Gibbs - 42

I maintain he's as talented a player we have on our list (with the possible exception of 25) and he showed just how good a player he is, finishing third in the count, 9 ahead Fev. Amazingly, 23 of those votes came in rounds 18-22 - a better 5 week period than any other player put together all season. It was no surprise this came as a result of him spending more time in the centre. His poise, vision and time with the footy is second to none. As he's maturing, he's showing he could be very solid in the air and he averaged a goal a game when he went forward. He does need to work on his gut running and defensive side of his game. As good as he was in 2009, he's only scratching the surface on how good he could be.

 

[blues4flag]

Believe it or not...

=1. Marc Murphy - 56
=1. Chris Judd - 56

The master and apprentice, after being neck and neck all season, were inseparable after 23 games. Judd needed to poll 4 more votes than Murphy in the last round to draw - Murphy polled 1 (1 vote behind Russell) and Judd 5. Couldn't have been any closer.

Both Judd and Murphy had brilliant seasons. Murphy was arguably our most consistent player this season. Barring the second Adelaide game, I don't think he had a bad game. The game's elite goal kicking midfielder, having kicked more goals than any other pure midfielder in the competition. His 31 goals is 2 better than Judd has ever managed in his career. He was also 15th in the league for possessions and contested possessions, with the 12th most inside 50s.

An underrated player, he is extremely dangerous around goals, very smart with the football and his evasiveness is phenomenal. Don't think there's another player in the league who can decelerate as quickly he can. Honestly reminds me a lot of a young Gary Ablett. Thoroughly deserving of his spot in the AA squad and wouldn't be out of place on the bench of the final team.


Then there's the eye gouger, the pressure point poker, Chris Judd. He's had to reinvent himself as a player, playing more inside than he did at WC due to our lack of a gun inside midfielder, however he's done it brilliantly. While many will tell you he is only a shadow of his former self and isn't in the top 5 midfielders in the game, the stats don't lie. 12th for possessions, 18th for tackles, 1st for contested possessions, 1st for inside 50s, 3rd for goal assists, 1st in clearances and 2nd in 1st possessions.

He must be regarded as the game's most complete midfielder - his ability both inside and outside remains elite. He did struggle a bit with tags towards the end of the season but hopefully he'll have more protection in that regard in 2010. His only weakness at the moment would be his inaccuracy around goals - his 12 goals are well down on the 20+ he used to kick while at West Coast.

Congratulations to both Marc Murphy and Chris Judd on winning this most prestigious of awards. Unfortunately there's no trophy associated with it but short of a premiership, I'm sure there's no award either would rather win.

 

[blues4flag]

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

-------------------------
Top 2 to come later tonight (guess who)

David Ellard and Cam Cloke?

 

[Jeremias]

Bentley!!

 

[Murph_The_Smurf]

marc murphy?

 

[blues4flag]

guns was doing his own count and had David Ellard finish marginally in front of Bower, Browne and Cloke, polling 115 votes.

Post 5 updated with winners.

 

[walkers a legend]

Yeah Murph

 

[blue gunslinger]

david ellard and cam cloke?

what are you trying to say?

 

[Blue Dawn]

Good work b4f.

Pretty accurate summation by our board too just quietly.

 

[blue gunslinger]

guns was doing his own count and had David Ellard finish marginally in front of Bower, Browne and Cloke, polling 115 votes.

Post 5 updated with winners.

You forgot Army Yarran Garlett and anybody else remotely connected with WA!

 

[blue gunslinger]

Congras blue4 on a great job
You deserve a trophy!

 

[blues4flag]

Thanks guns.

Good work b4f.

Pretty accurate summation by our board too just quietly.

Will be interesting to see how it differs from the B&F count. I'd imagine Jamison might be a bit higher.