Jump to content

Most Improved Player This Season

WERRIDEE
WERRIDEE
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

It has to be T.Mac he's been something special this year and considering he was on the scrapheap last year it's a credit to him.

Spargo has to be the next most improved player this year. I've been one of his harshest critics he has been unbelievable a credit to him.

Neal-Bullen has to be next he has lifted to another level.

Rivers has really come on too rising star receiver. I wonder what demonlanders thoughts on him being All Australian I think the half back flank spot is up for grabs and he has been as good as anyone.

What a year it has been we could have 10 All Australian nominees in Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, May, Lever, Salem, Langdon, McDonald, Fritsch and Rivers.

All we need now is for either Weideman or Big Ben Brown to clunk a few and that would be the icing on the cake. I can almost smell that elusive premioership.  

  • Quote
    • Like 4
     
     

    I think it somewhat depends what you define as improvement.  My take is that pretty much all of those mentioned have more or less recovered form to be playing as what is similar to their previous peak levels of performance.

    The real improvement has come in the across the board collective belief, maturity and consistentcy of the team. 

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    1 hour ago, dee-tox said:

    Fair comment.

    TMac

    ANB

    Spargo

    Kozzie

    Salem (prior to last two games)

    Petty 

     

    Absolutely.  The stars are great but these players are making a huge difference as well. 
    Go Dees !!! 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    JJ - gone from depth to so dependable and reliable.

    welcome to the wingers club! What a game playing  Ed Langdon’s role. 

  • Quote
    • Like 4

    This is why we are so good this year, we have so many guys playing career best footy, even our best players have improved.
     

    Spargo comes to mind but it’s hard to go past TMac. We tried to shop him off and pay some of his salary yet nobody was interested such was his performances for 2 years.

    He has turned several games this year,  and been a match winner, could not be happier for him.

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Love 2

    You could make a case for almost every player who played last night , but we are playing so well as a team. Every player is contributing. no Langdon last night , Hunt had one of his quieter games up stepped Brayshaw and Sparrow have no doubts this is why we are top of the ladder. 

    Purely based on numbers I’d imagine Gawn and melksham down on last year. Everyone else hitting career highs or close to it.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     

    That Spargo and Nibbler are making the ‘whipping boy’ brigade look like the mugs they’ve always been brings joy to my heart. They are serious, professional footballers dedicated to playing to their potential in a team that understands the value of such an attitude. Never deserved the garbage so many dish up to them, and last night was the perfect vindication of that. Considering his size, the number of times Spargo not only halves contests he shouldn’t, but does the deft tap, the block, the tackle, and creates opportunity for others, not to mention his vision and ball use, is just special. And yet, just watch the knockers come back when he has a quiet one. ANB just goes and goes, always has, and for someone who has no flash and no tricks, to have found an extra skill level 6 years into his career should impress everyone. And yet......

  • Quote
    • Like 11
    • Love 1

    ANB was this good in 2018.

    Spargo has absolutely found another level.

    Tmac is the most improved from 2020, but probably not from his previous best. 

    I’d almost argue Oliver. Sure he got lot of touches over the last few years but he is utterly dominating games and providing huge drive and damage. Could mount an argument on the same lines for Trac.

    Most improved doesn’t always have to be the fringe players. 

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    6 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

    It has to be T.Mac he's been something special this year and considering he was on the scrapheap last year it's a credit to him.

    Spargo has to be the next most improved player this year. I've been one of his harshest critics he has been unbelievable a credit to him.

    Neal-Bullen has to be next he has lifted to another level.

    Rivers has really come on too rising star receiver. I wonder what demonlanders thoughts on him being All Australian I think the half back flank spot is up for grabs and he has been as good as anyone.

    What a year it has been we could have 10 All Australian nominees in Gawn, Petracca, Oliver, May, Lever, Salem, Langdon, McDonald, Fritsch and Rivers.

    All we need now is for either Weideman or Big Ben Brown to clunk a few and that would be the icing on the cake. I can almost smell that elusive premioership.  

    I’m really pleased for TMac I remember him being interviewed a few years back and I thought at that time he would captain and achieve so much

    He has obviously worked incredibly hard over the off season to address areas of his game that weren’t working

    He was a critical factor in turning the game around last night - keep up the great work Tom 

  • Quote
    • Like 4

    TMac has played great footy before so his improvement is more like returning to his best, rather than discovering his best.

    Spargo for mine. I have always liked his footy brain, but he just couldn't impact enough. Now he is a serious problem for opposition because of his gut running, in-close skills, precision kicking and off-the-ball defensive stuff. He is everywhere, and continually makes things happen.

  • Quote
    • Like 4

    Tmac has to win this. He went from “he’s awful we need to recruit a tall forward stat and trade him out” to “sorry tall forward we recruited, you can’t get a game now”. 
    Given his foot issues and his age, his form turnaround is remarkable. 
     

    Honorable mentions to ANB who I had in the trash pile and couldn’t wait to see delisted. Proved me wrong. 
     

    Spargo always had it in him and just needed to find consistency. He is still really inexperienced and had a strong 2018 so I knew he could do it. 

    Edited by Jaded

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    No doubt in my mind, those three ANB, Tmac and Spargo. Stands out they are all now taking First choices pretty well all the time.

    And executing it quickly and with confidence.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    From an individual perspective it has to TMac. Phenomenal what he has done. 

    Collectively our team defense starting with May and Lever through to Spargo, ANB and Kozzie in the forward half has been a revelation for me this year.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    57 minutes ago, dl4e said:

    Petty.

    Loving his work.  I have been really happy and impressed by Petty's efforts to step up and into the role played by Tomlinson.  He's not quite a Tomlinson clone, just because of their differing physical attributes, but still contributing to the backline/team defense that's allowed us to maintain such good stability down back.

    He looked a little shaky for a few weeks and still has the odd brain faid moment where he shanks it out on the full or something, but overall I think he's brought himself back up to backman at AFL level.

    Starting to take some big strong intercept/contested marks and get involved in good chains of play as well.

  • Quote
    • Like 4

    Spargo struggled to kick over 35 meters a few years back. ANB put up for trade, T Mac put up for trade. What a turn-around. We often talk about first to be selected players, the selectors must take it in turns to put the first name on the board. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    3 hours ago, DaveyJones'sLocker said:

    You could make a case for almost every player who played last night , but we are playing so well as a team. Every player is contributing. no Langdon last night , Hunt had one of his quieter games up stepped Brayshaw and Sparrow have no doubts this is why we are top of the ladder. 

    Purely based on numbers I’d imagine Gawn and melksham down on last year. Everyone else hitting career highs or close to 

    No Gawny is playing a much more rounded game in as team orientsted plus handball shirt padding and defending and attacking.

    At the moment he is down a little on marks but more up on the 1% ers and his field kicking has improved.

    He is a more rounded player and as such useful ( valuable) to  the team.

    Brayshaw  is having his most consistent year since 2018 in a reprised defensive wing role so valuable to the team.

    And our selfless ethos and team unity are the glue sticking all of it together. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • GAMEDAY: Hawthorn

      It’s game day and the Demons are chasing a fourth straight win as we take on the high flying Hawks at the G. After decades of being tormented by the Hawks the Dees will be keen to extend their 7 year dominance over Hawthorn.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 39 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • NON-MFC: Round 09

      Round 9 kicks off out west with the Dockers hosting a Collingwood side resting several stars. Fremantle need to make a statement on their home deck after some disappointing form on the road, while the Magpies will be keen to maintain their Top 2 position. Friday night sees a must-win clash between two sides desperate to stay in touch with the eight. St Kilda have shown glimpses while Carlton are clinging to relevance after a flat start to the season. Saturday’s twilight game at Marvel pits the Bombers against a struggling Sydney outfit. Essendon can’t afford another close match against a lower-ranked side, while the Swans risk sliding down the ladder even further. Up in Darwin, the fourth-placed Suns will look to extend their stay in the top four. The Bulldogs have hit their stride with three big wins on the trot and will be very keen to consolidate on their momentum. The always fiery Showdown looms as pivotal for both clubs. Adelaide are eyeing a spot in the Top 4 with a win, while Port Adelaide’s season could slip away if they drop another game and fall further behind the pack. Sunday begins with a yawn fest between Richmond and West Coast. The Tigers need to bank the points to stay clear of the bottom two, while the Eagles are still chasing their first win of the year. The Giants face one of the league’s toughest road trips as they travel to GMHBA Stadium to face the Cats. With GWS at risk of a third straight loss, Geelong will be eager to consolidate their position inside the eight and start their climb up the ladder. The round wraps up with the top-of-the-table Lions heading to Ninja Stadium to take on the second-last Roos. The Lions should easily take care of the struggling Roos who might be powerless against the best in the comp. Who are you tipping and what are the best results for the Demons?

        • Thanks
      • 142 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREVIEW: Hawthorn

      Melbourne and Hawthorn who face off against each other this week have more in common than having once almost merged and about to wear a blue jumper with a red v triangle and an embroidered picture of a bird on the front. They also share the MCG as their main home ground, their supporters are associated with the leafy suburbs of Melbourne and in recent times, James Frawley graced the colours of both teams. Even more recently, both have bounced back from disastrous five game losing streaks to start off a season. Of course, the Hawks turned their bounce into a successful leap from the bottom of the ladder into a finals appearance, making it to the semifinals in 2024 and this year, they’re riding high in third place on the AFL table. The Demons are just three games into their 2025 bounce back, and are yet to climb their way out of the bottom four although they are sitting a game and percentage out of the top eight. However, with the current sportsbet odds of $3.90 to win this week’s encounter, it seems a forlorn hope that their upward progression will continue much longer.

        • Thumb Down
        • Clap
        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: Harvey Langford Interview

      On Wednesday I'll be interviewing the Melbourne Football Club's first pick in the 2024 National Draft and pick number 6 overall Harvey Langford. If you have any questions you want asked let me know. I will release the interview on Wednesday afternoon.

        • Clap
        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 35 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • REPORT: West Coast

      On a night of counting, Melbourne captain Max Gawn made sure that his contribution counted. He was at his best and superb in the the ruck from the very start of the election night game against the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium, but after watching his dominance of the first quarter and a half of the clash evaporate into nothing as the Eagles booted four goals in the last ten minutes of the opening half, he turned the game on its head, with a ruckman’s masterclass in the second half.  No superlatives would be sufficient to describe the enormity of the skipper’s performance starting with his 47 hit outs, a career-high 35 possessions (22 of them contested), nine clearances, 12 score involvements and, after messing up an attempt or two, finally capping off one of the greatest rucking performances of all time, with a goal of own in the final quarter not long after he delivered a right angled pass into the arms of Daniel Turner who also goaled from a pocket (will we ever know if the pass is what was intended). That was enough to overturn a 12 point deficit after the Eagles scored the first goal of the second half into a 29 point lead at the last break and a winning final quarter (at last) for the Demons who decided not to rest their champion ruckman at the end this time around. 

        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 0 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Hawthorn

      The Demons return to the MCG to take on the High Flying Hawks on Saturday Afternoon. Hawthorn will be aiming to consolidate a position in the Top 4 whilst the Dees will be looking to take a scalp and make it four wins in a row. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Thanks
      • 334 replies
      Demonland
      Demonland
    View All