Surprise packet of 2010

[Sylvia Saint]

2010 has been a great year for the MFC. Not only have we racked up more wins than 2008 and 2009 combined, but there have been a handful of players who really have surprised me (and I'm sure everyone else) with their performances this year.

I'm going to go with Rohan Bail. I had him pencilled in as a certain delistee a few months back, but now he is one of my favourites with his dash and skill. Definitely deserves another contract.

Dunn and Bartram not far behind.

Jamar I think started to prove his worth in 2009, and has carried on this year. That's why I didn't vote for him.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

I'm going to say Dunn, although I've been completely turned around (in a good way) by Bartram the last couple of months.

 

[omit]

Bartram and Mckenzie for me

Dunn has been really impressive in the last month as well

 

[Captain Jack]

Vote 1 Bartram.

Those who voted Dunn, remember we were calling for his head about halfway through the season. Then he kicked 8 at Casey, got back in the team and hasn't looked back. So I guess it depends on whether you ignore the first bit or not, because that certainly wasn't surprising.

 

[00Stinger]

Dunn just ahead of Batram.
Dunn was stiff to get dropped earlier in the year and his 2nd half of the season has been great

 

[d33my]

a nice even spread in the Poll, which is good because it means we've had more than one improver.
I voted for Bartram, because I'd like to see him win something, even if it is a BF poll.

 

[master bate]

Bail. I hadn't seen much of him but ;ast year he was in and out of the Casey reserves. I didn't even know if he had the talent to produce good VFL games. Now he looks comfortable playing forward or back in the AFL.

The other guys could all play but have stepped up to a degree. I think they have all improved from being in a competitive side, with a good run of injuries and some faith from Bailey in putting them in the 22. Jamar showed what he could do last year in limited games and Bartram has always been a fierce competitor. Bennell was pretty impressive last year. Dunn has been a surprise that's for sure, but for years now he's looked too good for VFL but struggled on the big stage.

 

[TREMBANYAMA]

From an outsider view: Jamar followed by McKenzie.

 

[d33my]

Also, is it unfair to include Watts in this discussion? He hasn't done anything particularly noteworthy except now when I watch him play I get the distinct impression he actually wants to be out there.

 

[BigSexc]

a nice even spread in the Poll, which is good because it means we've had more than one improver.
I voted for Bartram, because I'd like to see him win something, even if it is a BF poll.

pretty sure he won best first year player a couple of years back

 

[Legendary Deadset]

Didn't know much about Rohan Bail until I saw him in the pre-season intra-club at Casey. He lined up on LJ and proceeded to niggle him with a few elbows to the ribs. Noticed him several times later in the same game for his ferocious attack on the ball and little regard that it was 'just a practice game'.

Looked like he wanted to be out there and had a point to prove.

 

[richskee]

Jamar - Dunn - Mackenzie

Jamar is the standout, what he has done with his work rate and fitness is incredible. Also he's always putting away goals and rests down forward. And he's now our main kick in target.

Dunn has gone from a confused wing/tagging plodder to a great target in the forward line. I had him for the chop at the start of the year, thought he was as useless as a blonde with a calculator but to his credit he has taken Bates role and held it.

Mackenzie Wow what great tackling pressure this kid gives up. He's also quick and he's not the most attractive bloke so he's not scared to put his big head over the footy. Like his style, oldschool player.

 

[Crimson Azure]

I went with Jamar, he has been unreal.

I have to give huge credit to Dunn & Bartram as there has been a lot of haters on this forum towards them & they have shown what we all hoped they are capable of this year & gave us glimpses of in 2006/07.

 

[Demon Dynasty]

Have to go with Dunn.

After seeing Jamar in his few games last year Im not surprised at the way he is playing this year. Definately one of the best tap ruckmen in the league and now getting better around the ground also.

Bartram has always been a solid player, he just needed to work on coming back to his best form after injury. He did take a while but i always hoped he would come back to form.

Dunn for me was one player certain to be dropped after this season but he really has turned his game around. He is beginning to present well as a forward both up the ground and inside our f50. Most importantly he is starting to kick goals. I didnt see this coming at all to be honest so my vote goes with him

 

[Jordie_tackles]

More surprised about Dunns improvement, Jamar was good at the end of last year, Bartram has done the tagger thing just took it to a new level and MCkenzie came in with big raps this season.
More on Dunn he is a great shutdown player and has shown that he can kick goals of late

 

[Eth]

McKenzie with Jamar close second for mine.

 

[Chunkydee]

This will upset a few but my suprise packet is
JAMES FRAWLEY
has gone from good solid defender to absolute champion defender in one year maybe even ALL AUSTRALIAN DEFENDER

 

[Crusty Demon]

1. Jamar - From the scrapheap to a possible All Australian spot. Has to be this guy!

2. Bartram - Was on most peoples trade table before the season started, now is close to the first picked every week. An amazing performance this season.

3. Frawley - We all knew he was going to be a good player. But he has seriously become a great player at the age of 21. Who would have truly thought he would come on this quickly?

4. McKenzie - Looked ok late last year, but looks to be a 10 year player for us in the middle. Been good to great most games this season.

5. Petterd - Controversial? Maybe not. He showed enough in pre season and the handful of games he played early in the season to surprise how quickly he has come on in a F50 position. What was most surprising is that he was kicking bags of goals and became our most important forward by round 2 this season!

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Vote 1 Bartram.

Those who voted Dunn, remember we were calling for his head about halfway through the season. Then he kicked 8 at Casey, got back in the team and hasn't looked back. So I guess it depends on whether you ignore the first bit or not, because that certainly wasn't surprising.

I never called for his head, in fact I was pissed when he was dropped. Loved the way he presented and the options he created when we had the ball on the rebound. It was only his kicking that was not up to scratch imo.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

1. Jamar - From the scrapheap to a possible All Australian spot. Has to be this guy!

2. Bartram - Was on most peoples trade table before the season started, now is close to the first picked every week. An amazing performance this season.

3. Frawley - We all knew he was going to be a good player. But he has seriously become a great player at the age of 21. Who would have truly thought he would come on this quickly?

4. McKenzie - Looked ok late last year, but looks to be a 10 year player for us in the middle. Been good to great most games this season.

5. Petterd - Controversial? Maybe not. He showed enough in pre season and the handful of games he played early in the season to surprise how quickly he has come on in a F50 position. What was most surprising is that he was kicking bags of goals and became our most important forward by round 2 this season!

Beat me to it, played a great 4 or 5 games before his shoulder exploded and I don't think many saw it coming.

 

[Deefolt]

dunn without a doubt for me

 

[Deefolt]

Vote 1 Bartram.

Those who voted Dunn, remember we were calling for his head about halfway through the season. Then he kicked 8 at Casey, got back in the team and hasn't looked back. So I guess it depends on whether you ignore the first bit or not, because that certainly wasn't surprising.

how so, even pushes harder why he is the surprise packet as even through half way through the year he was dropped. Clearly woke him up, dunno why he didnt get the wake up call before that...

 

[saj_21]

I would say Bail closely followed by Mckenzie, i thought Mckenzie had the ability but may of taken another year to develop but the way he has played this year he looks like he has been playing AFL for 10 years. Bail i thought was a goner at seasons end but now he is in our best 22 has great dash from half back and very good finishing skills and can go back or forward. IMO we've found a replacement for James McDonald and Cam Bruce in Mckenzie and Bail.

Jamar is not a total suprise he is playing almost as good as last year, his body is just allowing him to play a full season. Bartram has also improved but thanks to being 100% fit and confidence he will be selected each week.

 

[cannons]

Bail for me, closely followed by Dunn.

Prior to the commencement of this season, I honestly though Rohan was a certainty to be delisted, given that he didn't show a great deal in his first year, especially considering he was a mature-age draftee.

This season, though, he's been very impressive, and is a lock to get a new deal as a result of his form. He's the type of player who makes you wonder why someone like Chris Masten ends up being selected at pick 3, whilst he slides all the way down to the 60s.

Should be a good player for us in the coming years.

 

[d33my]

Also, does anyone see Dean Bailey as a surprise packet this year? I felt that this year was a big test for him, he says that where we are now was about where he expected to be, which I guess is what every coach is going to say, but f*** me the pressure would have been on if we only had about 4 or 5 wins at this stage. He seems to have ticked all the boxes so far.
Or is it not as surprising, given this is his third year?