Most improved

[Big Red is back]

Well let us look to some of the positives of 2012.

I would be interested to see who people believe is our most improved player.

For me it has to be Brock McLean his second half of the season has in my view seen him firmly become one of our very best mids just behind Judd, Murphy and Carazzo.

 

[Dramoth]

I reckon that Armfield is right up on the list of most improved.

As for Brock, we knew he was good but this year he has definitely got back to his best...

 

[walshy93]

It is a huge shame about McInnes. I know he had only had the call up for a the last handful of games, but he was looking very solid down there. Very sad to see such a long setback just when the career looked set to flourish.

Yarran still has fade outs, but his line breaking has become elite. I don't mind if he gets caught once or twice a game, so long as he goes for five or six trots a game, and perhaps finishes up with a goal.

McLean has been mentioned, but boy gee has he shown some of the negative posters on here!

Armfield's defensive forward role has been great, and still manages to pop up every now and then for a goal or two. Great forward pressure.

A few more to mention when I get some time.

 

[zeeCFC]

Carrazzo, McInnes, Watson, Armfield, McLean, Gibbs

 

[BluesMan]

Carrazzo, McInnes, Watson, Armfield, McLean, Gibbs

Gibbs? He went backwards mate. And im a bryce fan.

 

[Blue Flame]

Carrazzo, McInnes, Watson, Armfield, McLean, Gibbs

Interesting call, I like him and don't think he has been too bad mostly, but I wouldn't say he's taken big steps forward either.
But I will be equally controversial and say Hampson.
He was a big strong target up forward early. I know he had a few off games, but he was usually good for a couple of goals a game, which for a ruck/forward is pretty good. Not many players in that role have had a similar output over the last few years.

 

[pepalenko]

Armfield. Most improved.
Watson next.

 

[BluesMan]

Armfield. Most improved.
Watson next.

yep

 

[Jeremias]

Of the already established players, clearly out of Brock and Armfield.

Wouldn't necessarily classify them as 'improved', but both Watto and McInnes took their chances with both hands and played some very nice football. Both have shown they have huge futures should their health permit.

 

[Blue Flame]

Of the already established players, clearly out of Brock and Armfield.

Wouldn't necessarily classify them as 'improved', but both Watto and McInnes took their chances with both hands and played some very nice football. Both have shown they have huge futures should their health permit.

That's the clincher isn't it?
If I were 190cm plus (I can dream) KPP drafted by Carlton, I would be taking out some serious health insurance.
And maybe going to confession.

 

[Blues_1864]

Armfield - Tough, committed, and conspicuously improved skill levels. And plays team football all the time, not just when it suits him. It is obvious he has been instructed to take the game on, run and play on at every opportunity, and so he actually does it, rather than allowing fear of making a mistake hold him up. Jordan Russell take careful note.

Hampson - Out of sight, out of mind, but I read somewhere that he still leads the club for contested marks this season. Prior to injury, had made significant progress in terms of understanding just what he is capable of at AFL level. I think we have missed him these last six weeks.

Carrazzo - I know he already has a B&F, but it has still been a breakout year for him, even with the shoulder. In a midfield still lacking defensive grunt, his efforts on Pendlebury in R3, a red-hot Dayne Beams in the return match, Matthew Boyd a fortnight later, and Jobe Watson in the first half last week were all highlights for me, great examples of combining defensive accountability with winning his own ball.

McLean - He was a top-five pick. He is supposed to be a good player anyway. But he has been reinvented, and it has been fantastic to see the clean hands in close complemented by really impressive gut-running. Time and again he has made himself dangerous in our F50 just by outrunning a less committed opponent and getting into space. And kicking goals. Career preservation is a wonderful thing, but full credit to him for working hard, not giving up, and seizing the opportunity when it came his way. Head and shoulders above the rest of our midfield last night, and superb last week as well.

Collins - We probably haven't seen enough of him in the last month, but provided excellent value when we were Judd-less, went from a fringe-delistable to a bloke with at least the outline of a future at the Club. Looking forward to seeing more of him, with increased confidence, in 2013.

 

[thylacine60]

Dangles. Good to see OP starting a fully sick positive thread. Most improved indeed...

 

[Matt72]

Robinson, Armfield, McLean in that order.
I have never had a problem with Watson so see him and continuing on as expected.

Obviously players who made their debut this year don't qualify as improving.

 

[Mentallo]

Def Armi, Hendo before he got injured. Treadmill (Mclean) certainly stood up when it was required.

 

[thylacine60]

Def Armi, Hendo before he got injured. Treadmill (Mclean) certainly stood up when it was required.

 

[Sin City]

Has to be the Brock!

 

[ESKIE]

Def Armi, Hendo before he got injured. Treadmill (Mclean) certainly stood up when it was required.

Army for sure, others we know have talent, army has improved beyong what i expected

 

[Styxx]

I'll throw in Tuohy to the list, for a guy in i think his third or fourth year at most even touching the ball he's growing.

Otherwise Armfield did a great job, McLean grasped the brass ring, Watson, Henderson helped until injuries/fatigue.

Not much considering the amount of players who went backwards ( Gibbs, Garlett, Hampson before injury, Warnock, Walker, Duigan, Bower (if possible) Russell)

 

[Claypigeon]

Dennis Armfield, Andy Carrazzo of the established guys. ..

Andy Mac and Levi Casboult of the rookies

Brock McLean of the guys thought passed it. ..

Probably more have gone forward than backward (disregarding injuries) which makes the results hard to digest. ..

 

[thylacine60]

Has to be the Brock!

What time do you call this?

 

[The Big Sticks]

I'll throw in Tuohy to the list, for a guy in i think his third or fourth year at most even touching the ball he's growing.

Otherwise Armfield did a great job, McLean grasped the brass ring, Watson, Henderson helped until injuries/fatigue.

Not much considering the amount of players who went backwards ( Gibbs, Garlett, Hampson before injury, Warnock, Walker, Duigan, Bower (if possible) Russell)

How can you say Hampson has gone backwards? Did you not see him play before he got injured? He was way better than last season.

 

[one eyed bluey]

Has to be armfield

 

[T2B_]

Yeah def out of Brock and Armfield. Army particularly because he's worked so hard to develop his skills enough and Brock we knew has this ability, but he still had to work his butt off to get his body going again and prove everyone wrong.

Before he got injured though, let's not forget Hampson. I think a lot of people still have Hammer of previous years in their mind... this year he was really starting to terrify opposition backmen and was one of our more accurate set shots at goal whilst being an effective ruck. Sort of like our Jarryd Roughead.

 

[mike ockerts]

Armfield >>>>>> Rest, simple.

 

[Big Sim]

Carrots for mine. Went from a good, tough accountable player and ball magnet with an alarming tendency to get coralled and turn it over to an elite midfielder who can take out a star and still win a stack of possies and clearances, reliably making good decisions with them and hitting his targets. At his age who'd a thunk it possible?

Army definitely went from fringe to best 22. If he can keep it up and even get up another notch he will be a valuable player.

Watson showed why he was drafted but still has a way to go.

McInnes looked like he belonged at senior level from day one.

Hammer showed some excellent form in both the ruck and the goal square before he was injured. Forget Levi mania, Hammer is our best option up there, then daylight, and then Levi IF (and only if) he can fix his abominable kicking for goal.

Eddie Betts. I think Fast Eddie has been in the form of his career. His goals, assists and marks will dominate the club highlights reel at the end of the year. Best small forward in the league and should be AA.

Brock didn't so much improve as become the player he was/should be but his re-emergence from the scrap heap was wonderful.

Players that went backwards? Tuohy no doubt, Duigan, JR, Jeffy, Kruze and Gibbs both at least stalled in their development for whatever reasons (injury, position), Lucas, Bower and AJ certainly didn't get any better. In the washup this is what cost us as we were expecting quality football from all of these guys.