Most improved player for CFC in 2011?

[fasteddie]

Just wondering who everyone thinks is the most improved Carlton player so far this year.

Chris Yarran?
Andrew Walker?
Mitch Robinson?
Heath Scotland?
Marc Murphy?
Jamo?
Henderson?
Ellard?

Any other ideas?
Thoughts?

 

[BrandonG]

Marc "Magic" Murphy

 

[jonoman89]

Walker. Easily. From a below average player to one of the best forwards in the AFL....it's gotta be Tex.

Jamo and Murphy have been sensational, but they were a lot better to begin with.

 

[juzz88]

Murphy is still my favourite player, but Walker has been the most improved imo.

 

[jezzatigerbrent]

MURPHY 4 ME!
i'd say murphy was not in say ''mike sheane's Top 50'' but now he a top 10..Plus he leads the Coaches MVP award..to where he's now an elite game breaker..& his season has been even more consistently great than even Juddy
Walker can go missing.but he and Robinson are really in our most valuable players..and both would be amongst the 1st chosen at MC

 

[Beloved]

Walker without a doubt. On the cusp of being traded, kept to the dismay of some, playing having a magnificent season with 40+ goals.

Just an incredible player. I don't know how we ever played without him in the forward line. Always bobs up and kicks a couple.

Not sure who it was, but the Blues flog who earlier in the season said he would rather have Crameri over Walker looks like a knob.

 

[Poseidon]

Walker without a shadow of a doubt.

Where was he last year? A very disposable defender/wingman?

Where is he now? Our most valuable forward/4th in the Coleman medal.

 

[CrippsonBlue]

Walker's improvement is great no doubt, but he isn't elite, nor is he in the top tier group for his position yet. It's not like he was a dud player - he was an injury plagued number 2 pick that always had the attributes to succeed, and had periodically shown great form in the past.

He just needed to stay injury free and be played in a position he felt comfortable with and enjoyed, then he was always a chance to be very good.

Most improved however has to be Murphy - he can stake claim to being the number one player in the comp this year, and has a decent chance at winning the brownlow.

Despite him already being very good previously, joining the top tier group of midfielders and being able to be considered in the elite bracket is a huge transformation - one that many great midfielders never quite reach.

Now he is there, I can't see him taking a backwards step, and certainly think people are underestimating the improvement he required to do so.

 

[Juddrockz]

Walker's accurate kicking at goal has saved many games for us this season
Walks has been like a new recruit for us this year.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Walker gets the nod from me with Robbo close behind
Both need to be a little more consistent but have been impressed by both
Thread needed an Ellard option!

 

[Beloved]

Walker's improvement is great no doubt, but he isn't elite, nor is he in the top tier group for his position yet. It's not like he was a dud player - he was an injury plagued number 2 pick that always had the attributes to succeed, and had periodically shown great form in the past.

He just needed to stay injury free and be played in a position he felt comfortable with and enjoyed, then he was always a chance to be very good.

Most improved however has to be Murphy - he can stake claim to being the number one player in the comp this year, and has a decent chance at winning the brownlow.

Despite him already being very good previously, joining the top tier group of midfielders and being able to be considered in the elite bracket is a huge transformation - one that many great midfielders never quite reach.

Now he is there, I can't see him taking a backwards step, and certainly think people are underestimating the improvement he required to do so.

Most improved isn't the same as best.

 

[Hayashi_62]

Murphy has been on the rise for years. He was in the top 10 in the brownlow two years ago.

Walker was average last year to a great, game winning forward. He only made a huge improvement this offseason.

 

[blues4flag]

We forget that Murphy was on the cusp of All Australian in 2009. He had a setback with injury last year but he'd already shown he was a top 10 quality midfielder when fully fit. He's arguably been in the top 3 players this season and alongside Mitchell, perhaps the most consistent.

Walker and Robinson for mine are the biggest improvers. Walker had shown glimpses in the past (including some dashing games of half back last year) but he's taken that to another level this season with full confidence in his body. Robinson likewise has gone from an inconsistent, sporadic flanker to one of our best midfielders in the space of a preseason.

 

[Jeremias]

Walker quite comfortably. No doubt about it.

Has gone from a player who has shown glimpses of great talent but has been unable to develop any consistency in his game due to injury, to a fantastic footballer and potential AA forward.

His transformation has been, quite frankly, unbelievable.

Robbo would be 2nd in this poll. Developing beautifully. Yaz a close 3rd.

 

[The Toad]

I think Walker has improved by heaps, IMO Jamo is the biggest improvment. Went from a steady defender into probably the best in the comp before he got injured.

 

[Dumpstar]

The best thing about that is you could pick any number of Carlton players from that list and make genuine claims as to why they are the most improved player this season.

 

[Team Mo']

1. Walker
2. Robinson
3. Yarran

 

[CrippsonBlue]

Most improved isn't the same as best.

Where in my post did I say it was?

As I said, going from a very good midfielder to potentially the best player in the comp this year requires much greater improvement than going from an average/decent player to a good player.

The improvement Murphy has shown would be equivalent to us winning the premiership this year, whereas what others have done would be equivalent to us making the top 4 for example.

 

[OldBlueFan]

Walker's improvement is great no doubt, but he isn't elite, nor is he in the top tier group for his position yet. It's not like he was a dud player - he was an injury plagued number 2 pick that always had the attributes to succeed, and had periodically shown great form in the past.

Mmmm, would you care to point out the medium forward(s) in the competition that you think have performed better than Walker this year? Let's see:

Andrew Walker: 18 games, 46 goals, 20 behinds (AVG: 2.56 goals, 1.11 behinds)
Steve Johnson: 16 games, 33 goals, 25 behinds (AVG: 2.06 goals, 1.56 behinds)
Mark Lecras: 14 games, 32 goals, 20 behinds (AVG: 2.29 goals, 1.43 behinds)

I'd be curious to know what you are measuring "top tier" for his position by? According to these stats he has remained healthier than his immediate rivals at the same time as averaging more goals and less behinds than them (thus he's been more accurate as well).

 

[blue gunslinger]

Where in my post did I say it was?

As I said, going from a very good midfielder to potentially the best player in the comp this year requires much greater improvement than going from an average/decent player to a good player.

The improvement Murphy has shown would be equivalent to us winning the premiership this year, whereas what others have done would be equivalent to us making the top 4 for example.

that label can only be used for 1 player in the AFL but of course that one player is about 7 Pies if you listen to the scribes.

 

[CrippsonBlue]

I'd be curious to know what you are measuring "top tier" for his position by?

I'm simply taking forwards, of which he isn't yet despite a decent goal average this year. Needing to break it down into 'medium forward' further highlights this.

EDIT: Certainly not trying to downplay his achievements btw, but he hasn't matched past seasons of guys like SJ and Didak for example.

 

[CrippsonBlue]

that label can only be used for 1 player in the AFL but of course that one player is about 7 Pies if you listen to the scribes.

Well it is subjective, but he is certainly thereabouts with those 7 Collingwood players

 

[blues4flag]

Mmmm, would you care to point out the medium forward(s) in the competition that you think have performed better than Walker this year? Let's see:

Andrew Walker: 18 games, 46 goals, 20 behinds (AVG: 2.56 goals, 1.11 behinds)
Steve Johnson: 16 games, 33 goals, 25 behinds (AVG: 2.06 goals, 1.56 behinds)
Mark Lecras: 14 games, 32 goals, 20 behinds (AVG: 2.29 goals, 1.43 behinds)

I'd be curious to know what you are measuring "top tier" for his position by? According to these stats he has remained healthier than his immediate rivals at the same time as averaging more goals and less behinds than them (thus he's been more accurate as well).

To be fair, they've both spent a lot of time up the ground, more so than Walker. Johnson averages 8/9 more disposals per game than Walker does.

 

[ESKIE]

For me it;s Robbo, not taking anything away from Walker, but we all knew walker had talent , Robbo has just improved out of sight, quite remarkable.

Special mention Chris Yarran

 

[blues4flag]

Well it is subjective, but he is certainly thereabouts with those 7 Collingwood players

He's thereabouts with Cloke, marginally ahead of Pendles and Thomas, well ahead of the rest.

Mitchell aside, there hasn't been a more consistent player in the competition this season.