Not sure if this is even an award at the B+F but wanted to get thoughts

Col Garland

Went from a semi decent back pocket who defender a man and not a lot else to a very high class defender. Now is willing to come off his opponent to help. Attacks the ball. Runs hard. Intercept marks. Really took a step up

Jack Fitzpatrick

Was a breath of fresh air when he burst on to the scene midseason with his hard leading and crazy goal kicking action. Certainly came a long way from his first AFL experience. Fast, not afraid to get into to it and surprised with decent marks. Needs to keep improving to be a regular but considering before the year most weren't too keen on him at all it's a good improvement

Dean Kent

Difficult to nominate a first year player but I think he really improved as the season went on. Started at Casey then got into the side and really held his own the last month or so

Michael Evans

For guy who'd missed so long out and hadn't played much he showed some very nice form at the start and middle of the year before succumbing to injury. Was one of our harder runners and attacked the ball.

Max Gawn

Again another who had missed a lot of footy and played a really good stretch at times, especially good against Sydney and a few other games. Also got the sense they were holding him back and not flogging him in a dead season. We hope for another big improvement next year

Jake Spencer

Graduation from complete spud who missed the ball when he tried to kick it to only mild spud. Still don't want him kicking or marking the ball but he showed his competitive nature and also that he can win hitouts, even though he still needs to get much stronger so he doesn't get pushed around by smaller but stronger rucks

Fitz.

Garland has been good for ages.

Fitz for mine.

Sylvia's defensive efforts have been improved out of sight, but its almost had a negative impact on his disposal.

I've gone with Fitzy,a s he's gone from certain delister to someone Roos himself has said he'd have in our 22. Strong argument for Garland though.

Garland went from pretty average to our premier defender and had a great year

Fitz for mine.

Sylvia's defensive efforts have been improved out of sight, but its almost had a negative impact on his disposal.

odd that in a way. Not able to put both facets together on a day. Shame.

Would've almost voted for Pickles Evans if he'd been able to stay on the park. Looks like a player for the future

Colin Garland was on my "get him out of the club as soon as possible," Brent Moloney list after round two. To have ended the year as probably our second-best performer is a tremendous testament to him as a person, and a fantastic reminder to me that I know jack-all about football.

The Fitz!

Garland started his career well, then sucked a bit, but now he has come good again. Hopefully under Roos he keeps up the good form.

One of the most damning things about this poll is why names such as Blease, Tapscott, Grimes, Trengove, Jetta and McKenzie don't figure in calculations at all, even considering their interrupted seasons.

Also, whatever you think of Watts, he was clearly improved this year and is probably a bit stiff not to get a mention.

One of the most damning things about this poll is why names such as Blease, Tapscott, Grimes, Trengove, Jetta and McKenzie don't figure in calculations at all, even considering their interrupted seasons.

Also, whatever you think of Watts, he was clearly improved this year and is probably a bit stiff not to get a mention.

Watts second half improved massively on his first but did his year improve on last? I'd say no.

Totally agree it should be Watts, Strauss, Blease, Trengove, Tapscott

I'd have put Watts on the list instead of Garland.

Doesn't matter much though, as the vote has to go to Fitzpatrick.

Colin Garland was on my "get him out of the club as soon as possible," Brent Moloney list after round two. To have ended the year as probably our second-best performer is a tremendous testament to him as a person, and a fantastic reminder to me that I know jack-all about football.

I had him on my "good player playing crud footy under a crud coach" list. He seemed to have a lightbulb moment and worked out that he had to stand up and show the bloody way because nobody else would. From then on he reached a new level and didn't sway from it.

Fitzy easy, it cant be a first year player like Kent.

I think Spencer. Fitzpatrick is the obvious answer, but we didn't really see enough of him and Spencer played has been around for longer and played more games where he's looked completely unco, soft and useless, but came back a pretty fierce competitor, has won more hitouts and a smarter player. Gawn has improved quite a bit too in his impact around the ground, as has Garland but he's always been pretty consistent (was probably taken off guard a bit last year when moved forward).

Why on earth would Blease, Trengove, Grimes, Tapscott, Jetta and Mckenzie be in the most improved? All have gone downhill over the last 1-2 years, except if you count Grimes' last game improving from his last 2 years, or Trengove's and Mckenzie's last 3 games. Watts has showed significant improvement in the second half of the year, but aren't we talking the season as a whole? If yes, I'd say the names in the poll are spot on. We've barely had any improvers under Neeld/Craig

The fitz gets the gong.

My vote is for the coach as most improved.

At the start of the season he was a shocker but by the end of the season the Coach was a real GEM.

:rolleyes:

FItzy for sure.

Garland has been on a strong, upward curve for some time.

I thought Evans was a monty for most improved but he got injured and Fitzy went roaring past him.

Looking forward to Evans and Fitzy next year.

I reckon Garland has come of age this season and has done so for most of the season. To me the difference is how external people from the club have mirrored what his coaches have said. I really think Rawlings has been a really good influence on the backs and I am glad that we have kept him as it will be really great for the group.

Most improved because of the consistency throughout the year where as all other candidates have had improvements in bursts rather then sustained periods.

Colin Garland was on my "get him out of the club as soon as possible," Brent Moloney list after round two. To have ended the year as probably our second-best performer is a tremendous testament to him as a person, and a fantastic reminder to me that I know jack-all about football.

Haha, I know that feeling. Col Garland's response to the team's adversity is inspiring stuff. Maybe he gets 'Most improved attitude'?

I would say Garland is our most complete defender, Chip is the best we have at shutting down a power forward but garlo can shut down talls, smalls, mediums, can play forward, could play midfield in bursts imo and is fantastic at counter attacking

Not sure if this is even an award at the B+F but wanted to get thoughts

Col Garland

Went from a semi decent back pocket who defender a man and not a lot else to a very high class defender. Now is willing to come off his opponent to help. Attacks the ball. Runs hard. Intercept marks. Really took a step up

Jack Fitzpatrick

Was a breath of fresh air when he burst on to the scene midseason with his hard leading and crazy goal kicking action. Certainly came a long way from his first AFL experience. Fast, not afraid to get into to it and surprised with decent marks. Needs to keep improving to be a regular but considering before the year most weren't too keen on him at all it's a good improvement

Dean Kent

Difficult to nominate a first year player but I think he really improved as the season went on. Started at Casey then got into the side and really held his own the last month or so

Michael Evans

For guy who'd missed so long out and hadn't played much he showed some very nice form at the start and middle of the year before succumbing to injury. Was one of our harder runners and attacked the ball.

Max Gawn

Again another who had missed a lot of footy and played a really good stretch at times, especially good against Sydney and a few other games. Also got the sense they were holding him back and not flogging him in a dead season. We hope for another big improvement next year

Jake Spencer

Graduation from complete spud who missed the ball when he tried to kick it to only mild spud. Still don't want him kicking or marking the ball but he showed his competitive nature and also that he can win hitouts, even though he still needs to get much stronger so he doesn't get pushed around by smaller but stronger rucks

If first year players can be nominated then in my view Toumpas was clearly the biggest improver over the year. But, if excluding first year players my order would be Watts, Garland, Fitzpatrick with an honourable mention to Spencer.

Col for mine - one of very short list who was consistent and resilent all year

I rate a consistency over a few flashes from Fitz - I do hope Fitz can contribute again in 2014 though

I'd have put Watts on the list instead of Garland.

Doesn't matter much though, as the vote has to go to Fitzpatrick.

I seriously hope you're joking.

Fitz fits.