Most Improved players 2012

[Gavin Excell]

I'd probably go Duncan

Thoughts?

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Motlop most improved.

Closely followed by Duncan.

 

[footscore]

excellent thread mate

I'm going with Bundy, Taylor, Hawkins and Selwood. Selwood has elevated his game to the elite level alongside the very best in the game.
We all knew it was coming and now he's starting to add goals to his bow which is pretty scary when you consider he's only 24 years of age.

 

[footscore]

still reckon Duncan hasn't quite put together consistency just yet.
Lurking on the verge of going ahead as a player but I still reckon Bundy has been a little better than him this season.

Won't be long before either boy start copping a tag

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Most improved so far is Motlop IMO. Has gone from a young fringe player at best to someone who has more or less cemented his spot in the best 22.

 

[thejester]

Motlop by the length of the straight; Guthrie a runner up. Duncan and Christensen have improved but both basically showed the same form last year. Motlop is now best 22, and as he showed last night is transitioning from a player who can make cameos to one who can consistently impact a game. Guthrie likewise now looks like best 22 and apart from the odd last line fumble looks pretty comfortable in the side.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Duncan's been our best young player in terms of consistent contribution, and he was already at a really good level anyway.

But Motlop's far and away been our most improved. Anyone who saw his inconsistent lacking on confidence play in the vfl last year would realise he's come a long way, particularly defensively and also offensively, and seems to be making up for all the time he missed with injury. Here's helping his body hold together.

I've also been impressed with Stringer's improvement from his first couple of games, and Guthrie is starting to look pretty comfortable.

Hopefully we can get Bundy on the park consistently in the run home, he is crucial for us.

 

[JUBJUB]

1 Motlop
2 Duncan
3 T Hunt
4 Guthrie

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Motlop then Hunt, then Guthrie would be my choices. Duncan has really stepped it up over the past few weeks, but he was a regular in our side last year. It's debatable whether he's been better over the whole season than Motlop and he was miles ahead of Motlop last year. Therefore, I'd say Motlop has improved more than Duncan.

 

[RobDog18]

Motlop has been amazing. Duncan is quickly becoming one of may favourites. Has got great skills and is averaging a goal a game.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Motlop has been amazing. Duncan is quickly becoming one of may favourites. Has got great skills and is averaging a goal a game.

Yeah, I love how classy Duncan is and while I'm not guaranteeing that he'll be the best of the 2009 draft class (Menzel, Duncan, Christensen, Vardy and Cowan...could add Pods), I can see him being a favourite of mine for years. It's a shock when he misses a goal when he's streaming into the fifty; just a deadly finisher, a trait that sets good midfielders apart from great ones.

 

[RobDog18]

Yeah, I love how classy Duncan is and while I'm not guaranteeing that he'll be the best of the 2009 draft class (Menzel, Duncan, Christensen, Vardy and Cowan...could add Pods), I can see him being a favourite of mine for years. It's a shock when he misses a goal when he's streaming into the fifty; just a deadly finisher, a trait that sets good midfielders apart from great ones.

Agreed, him and Bartel on the run from 50 is a certain goal.

 

[kickazz]

Another vote for Duncan.

Whilst Motlop has shown more than I could have hoped for, I think Duncan's progression has been more subtle. He's gradually built up to playing more and more time in the guts - something we need as the old guys get - well - old.

...and yeah, he's a great kick for goal, and can take a grab too.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Duncan is hitting an important stage of development maybe moreso than the others mentioned, now that he's hit 40 games. Yes he's entrenched in the 22, yes he is beginning to show signs of being a big presence in the midfield and across half-forward - but until Corey or another senior mid retires he won't make that next step yet. Then we'll see a real metamorphosis in him.

 

[dazbroncos]

I reckon Motlop has made the most noticeable and biggest improvement, while Guthrie has the most consistent improvement. Mitch seems to make the biggest one game improvement but is more patchy over the season - up and down but builds the skills gradually. Thought his work on Judd was awesome the other night. Reminds me more and more of a young Smithy with perhaps better foot skills and pace.

Go Catters

 

[David the Cat]

Motlop for mine....comfortably now in our best 22. Real pace, mature in his thinking and delivers beautifully. Class personified.....could be anything.

As someone above said, Duncan has matured as a footballer this year, and Scott putting him on Judd was a master stroke. I thought he was BOG on Friday night...is going to be a very very good player for Geelong. His aggression is far more evident this year.

Guthrie is coming along nicely. Not getting a lot of stats, but I suspect he is playing this defensive role more to round out his game as much as anything. Could well play midfield later on. All class in his disposal.

Finally...Stringer. Must be played and given every opportunity to develop. You could see his confidence levels rising and his effort when he came in as sub Friday night was excellent. Good pace, aggressive and baulked around blues players a few times to make space and deliver. A little more patience with him, and his occasional poor delivery being reduced to a minimum, and we are going to have a quick, hard running aggressive midfielder that plays a lot of games for us.

 

[you pick one]

Motlop for me, thank Christ he didn't finish up at the Hawks there would be a million threads on him by now,Buddy's love child,Cyril's understudy,Hawks to go through undefeated(they did that one anyway).
Down at Geelong we just go along under the radar with out all the hype,If where lucky Daz might critique his Guitar playing and that will be about it.

 

[Senatorguesty]

I gotta go with Motlop aswell, he's made HUGE gains this year over the past.
I also have to say Duncan, last year he was a promising youngster and now I agree, he's well and truely best 18 and I could see him becoming an elite midfielder/forward. He has the skills and talent we know, but he has fantastic work rate aswell which I really rate highly. A good example of work rate for me is sweat, when Mackie is on his game he has that wet hair/forehead thing going on, Duncan is the same.
Knows how to find the ball in close and outside, is already an elite finisher for goal and has good hands...
I can see the 09 draft being compared to the 01 (I think? Bartel, Ablett, Stevie, Kelly etc) draft in the future, even now you say Duncan, Bundy, Vardy and Menzel and all I can hear is potential elite.

 

[The rabbi]

I am another on the Motlop bandwagon. I love Duncan but still feel the he needs to improve the defensive side of his game. Tackling and chasing an opponent with the ball. Duncan is very good with the ball, especially by foot, but I still think the he does not put in enough when he does not have it.

 

[keen cats fella]

Tom Hawkins.

Consistently very good now. Even in his quiet games, he is still largely influential. He has certainly stepped up.

 

[Sttew]

Motlop by a country mile.

After that, Hawkins, Duncan and Guthrie

 

[Vdubs]

Motlop by a country mile.

After that, Hawkins, Duncan and Guthrie

Agree with that, would add T Hunt.
On Ch 9 yesterday, in the TAC hour, big commendations for Motlop possibly being the overall Rising Star winner.
Selwood for me though. More reliable kick this year, more complete in every way, captaincy agrees with him, and I really thought we had already seen his best

 

[footscore]

Rising Star winner.

of the top of your head, would you know who some of the other names are?

Motlop would now have to demand a quality defender. Has a heap of Rioli about him with his evasive skills but more importantly, looks to have a much better tank and is taller than most other smalls who have that same type of speed and lateral movement.

 

[topic97]

Id agree with Motlop first, followed by Duncan, Hawk & I like your suggestion about Selwood - he has been sublime this year, if he isnt right up there in Brownlow votes at this point there is something really wrong.

But with Motlop playing the way he has, its a very tantilising thought having Varcoe come back in to the team too and get Wojak into some form,
All of a sudden we go from being "slow" to having a pretty bloody quick team & those quick players having fantastic decision making skills - not a lot of the speedsters have both!!

Just a shame poor old Menz did his knee....

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

of the top of your head, would you know who some of the other names are?

Coniglio, Wallis, Shiel, Cameron, Grimes (if he gets back soon) and maybe Bugg.