Your club's most improved player? (afl site)

[one-eyed]

Who are the AFL's most improved players?
Nathan Schmook   
afl.com.au
July 2, 2014

RICHMOND

Most improved: Dustin Martin
After improving his fitness pre-season, Martin has been able to deliver consistently in 2014 and shoulder a significant midfield load for the battling Tigers. He has lifted his disposal average from 24.2 to 26.5, kicked 18 goals, and is having more of an impact at stoppages. Importantly, he hasn't drifted out of the action in the second half, which had been an issue in his first four years. The 23-year-old has put the drama of his off-season contract negotiations behind him and is delivering for his club.

Worthy mentions: Defender David Astbury was the Tigers' most improved player without doubt until he suffered a serious knee injury in round nine. Having finally completed a strong pre-season, the 23-year-old regularly beat quality opponents and has been sorely missed since going down. Midfielder Brandon Ellis has taken another step, lifting his possession average from 18.5 to 25.2.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-02/the-afls-most-improved-players

[Chuck17]

King Dioc and myself would also like to put forward Shaun Grigg in this worthly list of improvers

[Diocletian]

King Dioc and myself would also like to put forward Shaun Grigg in this worthly list of improvers

Indeed - every game he's missed this year has seen improvement.

[one-eyed]

SuperFooty looks at most improved AFL players at all clubs in 2014 season

Herald-Sun
July 30, 2014 10:30AM

AMONG all the controversial and melancholy stories the AFL world throws up each season, there are always uplifting ones that keep spirits high.

And nothing warms the heart more than witnessing players push themselves to improve and become the best footballer they can.

This year has been no exception.

With the rise of Port Adelaide, a handful of youngsters have taken their game to a new level.

As Brisbane dwindled at the bottom of the AFL ladder, some Lion cubs have ploughed on and given hope for the club’s future.

And we’ve witnessed some rising stars join the elite midfielders of the competition.

So, who has been the most improved player at your club this season?

The criteria: They must have had a career-best season, reaching a skill and consistency level they have never reached before.



RICHMOND

It could be a case of ‘what might have been’ for GWS, which let Anthony Miles go at the end of last season. Since cementing his place in the Tigers’ line-up, the 22-year-old has taken the competition — and the SuperCoach world — by storm. After seven games, Miles is averaging 25 disposals, five tackles and 106 SuperCoach points per game. He’s also ranked fourth in the competition for average clearances and 18th for average contested possessions.

Brandon Ellis is the other Tiger to have stepped up, averaging a career-high 26 disposals per game. He’s ranked first at the Tigers for total rebound 50s and fourth in the competition for average uncontested possessions.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/superfooty-looks-at-most-improved-afl-players-at-all-clubs-in-2014-season/story-fnelctok-1227006301799

[Dice]

Indeed - every game he's missed this year has seen improvement.

That's sharp Dio !   
Spat half me beer on the pc when I read that.

[the claw]

based on his previous 7 or so yrs at afl level  STATISTICALLY it has to be thomas.
just about every area you look at in a inside mids game has improved, mostly by some margin. WE ALL MOAN ABOUT HIS TURNOVERS AND LACK OF PACE.But i reckon these weaknesses have largely been offset by what hes bought to the table. and have diminished to a degree.
hes still not my cup of tea but hes improved enough for me to leave him alone.

disposals - have gone from a not acceptable 15 to 21 a game, the improvement here is mostly contested ball.
takles - are up- he was alreasy a high tackler and a good one at that. have gone from just under 5 to 6.5 a game.
clearances - have gone from 2.3 to 4.2 almost acceptable imo.
contested posseions - have gone from 7 to 10 a game.

[Stripes]

Many people are heralding 2014 as Martin's best season because he has been the most consistent but in terms of improvement surely Astbury should have won this award even after missing half the season. His improvement was considerable.

Miles improvement was also massive. He was delisted, picked up as a rookie, quickly improved in the VFL before breaking onto the scene as an AFL contested ball machine. That is a fair lift I would say.

Great to see Ellis recognized as one of our best players this year too

[Dice]

tackles - are up- he was alreasy a high tackler and a good one at that. have gone from just under 5 to 6.5 a game.

His tackle on Ryan Griffen early in the season was my favorite tackle of the year. Griffen nearly ended up in the underground carpark.

[the claw]

Many people are heralding 2014 as Martin's best season because he has been the most consistent but in terms of improvement surely Astbury should have won this award even after missing half the season. His improvement was considerable.

Miles improvement was also massive. He was delisted, picked up as a rookie, quickly improved in the VFL before breaking onto the scene as an AFL contested ball machine. That is a fair lift I would say.

Great to see Ellis recognized as one of our best players this year too

reckon martins progress has been incrementle each yr. as it has been again this yr. theres been no dramatic improvement with dusty its been very much steady as she goes.
the areas i want dusty to be better in i reckon hes stagnated. contested ball has plateued for a few yrs and he doesnt win enough c/b. his defense and tackling needs to be better as well.

[tony_montana]

Many people are heralding 2014 as Martin's best season because he has been the most consistent but in terms of improvement surely Astbury should have won this award even after missing half the season. His improvement was considerable.

Miles improvement was also massive. He was delisted, picked up as a rookie, quickly improved in the VFL before breaking onto the scene as an AFL contested ball machine. That is a fair lift I would say.

Great to see Ellis recognized as one of our best players this year too

reckon martins progress has been incrementle each yr. as it has been again this yr. theres been no dramatic improvement with dusty its been very much steady as she goes.
the areas i want dusty to be better in i reckon hes stagnated. contested ball has plateued for a few yrs and he doesnt win enough c/b. his defense and tackling needs to be better as well.

contested ball hasn't stagnated - its gone backwards year in year out! Its criminal the way hes being utilised imo, yeah I love seeing him get the ball in space but I loved it a whole lot more when he was winning his own ball and bursting clear - that was in year 1, since then he's been progressively moved to a more outside role year after year - mind boggling