ANB would have to come under serious consideration here. Always tough and competitive he has improved his skill levels immensely. He passes the ball by foot and hand well and rarely misses his target. Also sneaks in with one or two goals a game. Would rival Ed Langdon as the endurance player of the team. He also has a good football brain. I think he would be deserving of the award. What do others think?

Luke Jackson. Considering how he has come on this year, compared to 6 games last year.

It's more natural development than ANB's working on deficiencies, but I think his rise has been the greatest.

Good question Bob ! A few contenders but I'm going for Petty.

He didn't appear up to it in his early games but after Tomlinson's injury he became pivotal in the backline.

In fact he's now jumped ahead of Tommo in the pecking order.

Angus Brayshaw. Never has my opinion of a player shifted more dramatically in a single year.

I wanted him shipped to Freo and actually thought he was a culture killer last year. The way he has embraced and led that team-first ethos from a wing (the position we needed to fill the most) is possibly the single biggest thing that got us to this point. Future captain if he wants it.

Edited September 29, 20213 yr by Chook

Petty - not terrible in some of his earlier games forward or back but emerged as a solid key back after missing an entire year
Hunt - flakey forward to a very reliable defender, sad to see him lose his spot through injury
Salem - I don't think he was that far off but finally delivered the consistent form we knew he could produce
Lever - similar to Salem but also became a lot more assertive
Brayshaw - didn't get a whole lot better, still messes up plenty but completely committed to a role
Oliver - went from very good but flawed player to great and great team player
Spargo - got his spot back in the side and showed why he is one of the craftiest players
Tommy Mc - went from scrapheap to solid
Jackson - his form prior to injury last year was good too but went up a level
Sparrow - played some decent games last year but cemented his spot

But I think the 2 biggest contenders are:
Jordon - apparently was decent in scratch matches last year but really came from nowhere to do a job on the wing, on ball or half forward with no fuss. Technically played all 25 games.

ANB - turned his career entirely around, the most tireless worker who started to add composure, toughness, smarts all to his game. I don't think fans (myself included at times) appreciate just how good he's been this year.
 

3 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Good question Bob ! A few contenders but I'm going for Petty.

He didn't appear up to it in his early games but after Tomlinson's injury he became pivotal in the backline.

In fact he's now jumped ahead of Tommo in the pecking order.

Petty is a good call. 

I was concerned at May's age but now we will have him for a while then have a seamless transition with petty to full hack  and maintenance of a premiership standard defence for a number of years. Lever cpntinuing the leadetship role there with the others. 

i know it's only been a short time, but bowey's development and maturity has blown me away.

I always valued ANB.  Yes he had flaws but I thought he was very harshly judged.

I also suspected Petty was an upgrade to Tomlinson, so haven't been at all surprised there.

 

I was horribly, horribly wrong with Fritsch though, so for me he was our most improved.  Early in the year, I thought he was the one that needed to drop out of the team if we were to bring Ben Brown in.  Fritsch is a star and I couldn't have been more wrong.  

Agree with ANB. The most improved on the list from a not so obvious point of view. You now know what you're getting from him from week to week, and it's pretty damn good.

However, Fritta took his game to the stratosphere for much of this year and has to win the award.

T Mac showed dramatic improvement in the first half of the year but the inclusion of BBB made him less of a focal point and thus less influence on games.

Spargo made a significant leap from a poor 2019 to the latter games in 2020 and then another leap into 2021.

Harmes improved in 2021 after losing his spot in 2020, but I'm unsure whether he's absolute best 22 going forward.

Sparrow certainly had a better year in 2021 but that's because he was injured for most of 2020. He could be my candidate for most improved for 2022 as he'll vie for more midfield minutes.

I can't really think if any other dramatic improvements, aside from Rivers, Kozzie and Jackson having ripper second years after promising debuts. Improvement implies a player had an ordinary prior year, but these fellas were good in year 1 when they played.

 

Edited September 29, 20213 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

ANB, was a big critic, but he stopped fumbling and missing easy goals, became invaluable.

Jacko for mine.

I remember at the start of this year as looking at him like a skittish pony. Our expectations weren’t high and Kozzy was to be the better of the two for this year. If I recall correctly, there may have been a thread touting his potential after he clinked a huge mark against Freo (but missed the shot for goal afterwards).

Who would’ve guessed that by the end of the year he would be doing more than giving us glimpses or cameos, but actually being the determining factor in at least 3 games? Just think what he’ll be like once he’s got a few more years under his belt and is ready to step up into the first ruck role?

I think a lot of people are having problems reconciling  their prejudices towards some players (i.e. only think of any mistakes ) and accepting these blokes are now Premiership players, who have played probably the purest football you could imagine AGAINST the next best side in the competition ( not the 18th best) .

Just think of Angus' efforts in the 3rd Q ( in fact over the whole final series)

TMac's team effort and providing the big option when the first were covers ( plus his assistance for Sparrow's goal)

ANB's imitation of a buzzing Bee throughout the finals

Sparrows final series

Spargo's ""football brain"

Fritta's marking & kicking

The improvement of Jacko, Rivers , Petty , Kozzie ( starting to play like Cyril in that If he is in the area ,watch out, which creates pressure) & Bowey.

There is a lot of upside IF they keep the same attitude !!! ( which I am confident they will )

 

I think we are the most improved team 2021 and as a result premiers.

The most improved is Luke Jackson or Fritsch (59 goals from 22goals)

Fritter by a mile.

So many.

ANB: Became the captain of the forward line. Directing teammates, leading by example, doing the hard things.

Petty: Took a month to feel comfortable but hit his straps and took on some huge jobs. Came from nowhere.

Fritta: 60 goals for the year says it all.

Spargo. Became a consistent, hard working team member and perhaps the best kick in the team.

Kozzie: 40 goals and manic pressure. Massive improver.

Salem: Became the best quarterback in the comp. in the first half of year. Bad groins only thing stopping him from being AA.

Jordon and Sparrow. Mentioned in other threads.

BBB: Was terrible in last year for Roos. Got fit and bought into Demon system.

Langdon: Took his game to a new level.

TMac: Became TMac of old in first half of season. Hit a wall after injury.

Oliver: Learnt to sprint first 15 metres out of stoppage and kicking improved exponentially. Less hot potato handballs. Made possessions count.

Jacko: Started taking contested marks and became much more reliable kick.

 

Edited September 29, 20213 yr by dee-tox

My two are Oliver and Trac. They have improved there games heaps this season. Clarry not just an insider who mainly handballs. He now spreads and kicks as well as most. Trac fulfilling the promise and now delivering on a consistent basis. 

I agree with everything that has already been said but in terms of role players Nibbler for mine was most improved

I was not a massive fan of Maxy as captain. Wasn't sure if he had the presence and authority but he took his leadership to another level this year. Led by example and in his own style. He was immense throughout the season

36 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

However, Fritta took his game to the stratosphere for much of this year and has to win the award.

His 46 shots in 16 games last year was in the top 10 in the comp. 

With team improvement and  Brown settling in factored in I think goal kicking was his big improvement.

Otherwise I think he made some marginal gains from a top 8 or so player at getting shots on goal towards the top 5. 

Ive pretty much thought since he went back forward late in 2019 he’d be a professional goal kicker. Not 6 goals in a grand final but good for 40 a year in a regular season. 

I am liking what I am reading there has been such a quantum leap in team first and everyone playing their role that every one pulling on the jumper has had to improve to hold their spot. I agree Docs Demons that Clarry and Tracc have now entered the Dusty/ Dangerfield super Elite whilst Max has become the Best Captain in the league and Jack Viney is again playing career best team footy.. It will be interesting to see how the Footy Department rank our playing group.

40 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Jacko for mine.

I remember at the start of this year as looking at him like a skittish pony. Our expectations weren’t high and Kozzy was to be the better of the two for this year. If I recall correctly, there may have been a thread touting his potential after he clinked a huge mark against Freo (but missed the shot for goal afterwards).

Who would’ve guessed that by the end of the year he would be doing more than giving us glimpses or cameos, but actually being the determining factor in at least 3 games? Just think what he’ll be like once he’s got a few more years under his belt and is ready to step up into the first ruck role?

I agree with some of that it’s just in his games last year he:

- nullified Harris Andrew
- out marked Daniel Talia
- comfortably broke even with Todd Goldstein 

Some of that was more cameo stuff than full performances. And certainly nothing like changing the course of multiple games including finals. But my expectation for this year was he’d look like he belonged even with some ups and downs. He totally outplayed those expectations but compared with the expectations I had of Jordon, ANB, McDonald I’m less surprised.

Hands down Harrison Petty. to come in as such a young player and hold down Centre half back in a premiership side is incredible. we got better with him in there, and he now looks a lock in our back 6 for a decade 

Spargo

Fritsch followed by Pickett 

I don't include guys like McDonald or ANB as their previous best years have been strong

I'd choose ANB. He seems to understand his limitations and is better for it. For example, he's become a reliable short kick spotting up players in the forward line with deft 30m kicks. But when a longer kick is needed, such as shots at goal, he's not too bad at that either.  

I also think Petracca improved immensely so that his best was more often on show. He's always had that ability, but now delivers it more consistently.

Charlie Spargo (chanted to the Barmy Army song). Supreme ball use inside 50 this year.

Jayden Hunt - cemented a spot in the 22 for most if the year until injured after a few years being on the periphery