I would say we only have improvers....i guess you couldn't really go any further backwards, so my ranking of 10 best improvers at carlton so far are...

1. Paul Bower: went from a defender that had more kicked against him that what carlton would kick, to a player that is taking the big names and defeating them comprehensively. His disposal and decision making has improved X10.

2. Marc Murphy: it wasn't any suprise that as soon as he loses the tags, he would start showing his true colours.

3. Bryce Gibbs: Turned himself from a skinny little kid, to a well oiled tackling machine. He is finding alot more of the ball, and looks more comfortable

4. Eddie Betts: for someone his size, to be able to take such strong contested marks is unbelievable. Plus he kicks a miracle goals every week. He is the hardest working footballer on the team

5. Jarrad Waite: Always looked the "potential" type, but been played everywhere around the ground never allowed him to settle in. Being played only in the defence as ratts promised, he has become one of the elite defenders in the league. There is improvement left in him in regards to foot skills, however, his attack on the ball and ability to set up play and run from defence is one of the best.

6. Cam Cloke: Although showed heaps before he got injured last year, he continued the great form this year. Plays an excellent role in the ruck for a 196cm ruckman, but it's the work and effort he puts around the ground which is most impressive

7. Jordan Bannister: I was pissed of we didn't get rid of him last year, but has he changed my mind in a hurry. He has played 5 outstanding games so far this year before getting injured. can't wait to have him back in this week

8. Brett Thornton: Another player that was in terrific form before he got injured. I would say he would've been leading our bnf before he got injured.

9. Adam Bentick: Pkls has told me how good and important of a player he is, but i stubbornly disagreed. Since been put back in the team, he has been terrific. He's 31 possession game against freo came with his typical 11 hard ball gets.

10. Shaun Grigg: Quickly becoming a favourite of mine, he did pretty well early however did do alot of skill and decision making errors. However since the West Coast game, he has improved at remarkable pace.

and if there is an 11th spot i would put Jordan Russell. He is the slowest improving player that has ever existed, but he is getting there. He still needs to work on his decision making and his shooting at goal. however for a player that all us carlton fan loved to blame everything on him, he has become an important player to our structure.

Special mentions to Brendon Fevola for coming back into previous form, Setanta O'hailpin for playing his best game for the club, Michael Jamison for been the best rookie listed player in the league but i knew that from last year and Stevo for coming a strong comeback from injury.

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cruise (Kreuze) missile:
a very accurate flying bomb.
SOURCE: http://library.thinkquest.org/3785/glossary.html

I agree with your list Habib but we have had SO many of these sort of threads lately.

Sorry to be negative.

Habib, I was really impressed with Grigg on the weekend.

His last quarter was exceptional. He got to so many contests and used the ball well.

Marc Murphy has improved a lot too.

Michael Jamison would have probably been my number 1 in terms of improvement prior to the injury. Paul Bower would be up there though.

Have Jacobs in the list
You dont have to qalify if you havent played a senior game

1. Jamo
2. Bower
3. Betts
4. Murph
5. Waite
6. Grigg
7. Gibbs
8. Banno
9. Thornton
10. Cloke

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The climbing has alread began

biggest improvers from last season:

1-jamison
2-bower
3-waite
4-bentick
5-russell
6-grigg
7-cloke
8-gibbs
9-betts
10-murphy

Edit: forgot betts

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

i'm not a gibbs basher at all, but what exactly has he done to deserve a spot on that list? I would consider the scapegoat jr more deserving, if we are comparing last year's form to this years

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Cheerio to my friends KN, BC, TT, GP, DK, AE, MS, SC, TC, JL, MO & LF

ok my bad, jr was on it, but still think gibbs hasn't improved hugely...is a solid performer, but was solid last year too

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Cheerio to my friends KN, BC, TT, GP, DK, AE, MS, SC, TC, JL, MO & LF

pretty much spot on

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"You don’t get much more Navy Blue than Stephen Kernahan" - Marc Murphy

i don't think he has improved a great deal either, hence why i didn't have him as high as others but i think he has improved enough to warrant a spot in the list.

as far as his stats:

2007: kicks:7.6, handballs: 5.4, disposals: 13, marks: 4.3, goals: 0.2, tackles: 2.8

2008: kicks: 10.4, handballs: 9, disposals: 19.4, goals: 0.5, tackles: 3.4

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

I think Gibbs has improved immensely. He is carrying the ball more and feels more confident on the ground. Last year he looked like a lost little boy. Now people fear him. He has had several really good games and as for the improvement factor, he stats do the talking.

the reason i didn't put jamo is because i believe in the 6 games or so he played last year, he was playing as good as he's been playing now, if maybe only slightly improve, and all that shows is how highly i rated him after 6 games, i am his number 1 fan after all.

_________________
cruise (Kreuze) missile:
a very accurate flying bomb.
SOURCE: http://library.thinkquest.org/3785/glossary.html

Those stats would indicate a 50% improvement

tackles most relevant for me, as have to take into account the higher possession game we are playing - i daresay most players numbers are up this year

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Cheerio to my friends KN, BC, TT, GP, DK, AE, MS, SC, TC, JL, MO & LF

That's probably true.

What Gibbs has done this year is influence games.

Watch the Collingwood game, Gibbs was sensational after an early stuff up in the first quater.

When we couldn't buy a goal against West Coast in the 3rd quater it was Gibbs who kicked a steadier for us, not to mention the sealer in the last.

Against Freo in the last quater, he showed poise and balance beyond his years to duck out of the pack and deliver to Stevens for the sealer.

Interesting debate about Gibbs on SEN this morning. Some Carlton knob bagged Gibbs and their phones went hot with most supporting Gibbs, even Collingwood supporters.

1) Bower - Fantastic Disposal Now and Attacking
2) Jamison - Should have Full Back, watch out when he gets bigger
3) Gibbs - Now backing himself and taking them on. Needs to play Mid and Forward
4) Grigg - Confident young guy, could be good in midfield as well
5) Murphy - Running the game out better now. Needs to improve kicking, then watch out.
6) Eddie - Slow pre-season but getting more tougher and more urgent. Like to see him score around 2 goals per game and get some midfield time
7) Russell - Tackling better, getting the ball more often. Still not confident enough in front of goal
Waite - More consistant and attacking. Would love him back in Forward line
9) Simmo - Getting a few more goals than last year. Nice running goals by taking them on


This is it for me. Others are consistant. Need more improvement from others to rise to next level.

Stevo/Scotland - To be consistant and get the hard ball
Fisher - Goal Kicking
Fev -Goal Kicking is a little off
Thornton - Plays behind too much, especially against better forwards cannot keep up

1) Eddie Betts- After a worrying preseason he's really turned in on this year proving the doubters wrong.
2) Paul Bower- He's still backing himself but he's really picking his runs and has become a major part of our new and improved defensive unit
3) Michael Jamison- Still a rookie, but he's easily the best defender we've got on our list. The only reason he isn't higher is that I thought he was pretty good late last year.
4) Bret Thornton- Struggled last year but was really enjoying his new role in defense before his injury.
5) Shaun Grigg- Really solidified his spot in the team. Getting better and better with every game.
6) Adam Bentick- I don't know if he's any faster than he was last year but he's game on the weekend was elite. Just knew exactly where to run at all times.
7) Jarrad Waite- Providing plenty of run from defense and has beaten more than he has been beaten. He's finally settled into his position.
8 ) Brendan Fevola- The big improvement with Fev is the work he's now putting in when he hasn't got the ball.
9) Jordan Bannister- Doesn't get much of the ball but has certainly been effective as a defensive midfielder
10) Marc Murphy- Has had a wonderful year so far.