You'd have to assume the Footy Department had doubts about Martin late last year, too. Why else rookie Robbie Campbell. Insurance we thankfully didn't need to use.

Howe shouldn't be forgotten

That's what the Best First Year Player is for. You can't be most improved when you weren't on the list last year..

Tough choice but I've gone with Watts. He's been a little more consistent with his performances whereas Stef has gone missing a little of late.

Stef really did grab the opportunity with both hands when Jamar was out and good on him for that. Nothing wrong with his hunger.

I went with Watts just ahead of Martin. Both been very good but I reckon Watts is showing signs he'll be an absolute star of the comp! Martin's going to be a very good player also, but I reckon Watts has shown just that touch more class.

Forget about trade bait; if Martin's year this year was like his year last year then he'd have shoved Matty Warnock and Addam Maric out of the way for first to be delisted, and his career would've been finished.

He was definitely on the rocks at the start of this year, that's what makes his improvement all the more spectacular.

Yeah, been amazing.

Martin has turned it around completely.

If someone had told me that we would have one of the leagues best ruck tandems I would have said 'yeah, Jamar's left hand and his right hand...'

Well done.

I went for Watts just ahead of Martin.

I was a doubter and he turned me around completely with some sublime displays during the year.

Sadly I think Aaron Davey would be a lay-down misere

Yes you would struggle to make a book on who had the biggest drop in form.

However a certain Mr. B Green would be warm second favorite.

From "All Australian" to doubts if he will get a contract let alone be captain is a very big fall as well.

Yes you would struggle to make a book on who had the biggest drop in form.

However a certain Mr. B Green would be warm second favorite.

From "All Australian" to doubts if he will get a contract let alone be captain is a very big fall as well.

Not to be pedantic as your point's valid but he wasn't AA.

If someone had told me that we would have one of the leagues best ruck tandems I would have said 'yeah, Jamar's left hand and his right hand...'

Haha, nice.

Martin followed by Watts followed by Garland.

Forget about trade bait; if Martin's year this year was like his year last year then he'd have shoved Matty Warnock and Addam Maric out of the way for first to be delisted, and his career would've been finished.

He was definitely on the rocks at the start of this year, that's what makes his improvement all the more spectacular.

Erm, he only managed 2 games in an injury wrecked 2010...

Edit: When we were intent on developing the NQRs/youngsters...

Edit 2: 2009 - 19 games. 2011 - 20 games...

Not to be pedantic as your point's valid but he wasn't AA.

Sorry RR be as pedantic as you like.

You are correct I must have got all Australian and playing for Australia versus the Irish mixed up.

Or the brain is fading faster than I thought

bit of a conundrum this one..A few have definitely inproved.

most improved.?

as to absolute improvement Im inclined to think Martin has possibly taken the largest step, but if im to qualiify anything with usefulness then I vote Watts. His improvement whilst not so seemingly dramatic is of a nature more useful. Watts is taking that step from handy to very accomplished. I suspect and hope he'll continue in this vein.

Erm, he only managed 2 games in an injury wrecked 2010...

Edit: When we were intent on developing the NQRs/youngsters...

Edit 2: 2009 - 19 games. 2011 - 20 games...

In 2009 we were also intent on developing the NQRs.

And Martin was one of them.

He may have been injured in 2010 but he was still an NQR, and he was headed for a delisting.

Easily the most improved player on our list.

Martin, given the base he came from a top effort on his part.

Then Jones, he has become far more consistent this year and has stepped up. We dont talk about him much but his attitude is so positive and with a work ethic to match I suspect he will work on his game (yes slowly) until he irons out the flaws so we may see him take another step up next year as well.

Finally Watts. I feel a bit unfair putting him third because he gets marked harder as a numbe 1 draft pick. Our base of expectation is very high and he has really improved on last year and as said above gone from handy to accomplished. Cant wait to see him again next year.

Can't speak highly enough of Martin's improvement. While he's now quite good as a tap ruckman (still nowhere near as good as Jamar, but he'll get there), he just gives us so much around the ground. He's what we dreamed about at the start of the year - good enough to be worth a place as a KPP (back or forward) who can go into the ruck for a fair chunk of game.

In fact, with Martin, Jamar, Gawn, Spencer, Fitzpatrick & Campbell all looking the goods: First, we can safely dispense with Newton & Dunn. Second, we may have one ruck too many, and the question is whether we look to trade someone like Spencer, or whether we really get aggressive in trade week and look to attract a top-level midfielder or forward by offering Jamar to Hawthorn or Tiges or Port. This looks very risky now, but could look very good indeed in 2013 when we have Martin, Gawn, Spencer or Fitzpatrick tearing it up - and remember, we only need 2 of them to be A-grade. Jamar is a great tap ruckman, but gives us very little around the ground, and is hopeless up forward (last week he hit the behind post from barely 20m out).

Jamar is a great tap ruckman, but gives us very little around the ground, and is hopeless up forward (last week he hit the behind post from barely 20m out).

You are kidding. Can take a contested mark up forward and has normally been accurate up forward (He has kicked 3.6 this year though). In fact his career accuracy record stacks up well indeed.

http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/accuracy.html

In 2009 we were also intent on developing the NQRs.

And Martin was one of them.

Yes, to a degree, and no.

In 2009 24 players played 10 or more games.

Davey 22, Moloney 21, Morton 21, Jones 20, Bate 20, Frawley 20, Rivers 20, Bruce 19, McLean 19, Martin 19, McDonald 18, Petterd 18,

Johnson 18, Sylvia 17, Miller 17, Warnock 17, Bennell 16, Bartram 15, Jetta 15, Dunn 13, Robertson 13, Green 12, Cheney 12, Grimes 11, Whelan 10

Of that list, I've bolded players with 3 or fewer seasons experience at that time (33%), and italicised delistings/trades/retirements (33%).

He may have been injured in 2010 but he was still an NQR, and he was headed for a delisting.

He was taking away PJ's position as a second year 19 game player in 2009.

Edit: Spent an hour looking for video of a play of his in 2009, that I've posted here about before. Land only allows searches to 2010 though, and google was not my friend.

Edit2: Somehow didn't note Juniors category.. adjusted along with delistings/trades/retirements %