With NTFA division one's home-and-away season completed, coaches were asked who their most improved player/s were for 2019 with a mixture of youth and experience shining through.
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Lilydale
Finished: First
Coach: Colin Lockhart
Most improved: Sam Lockett
"Sam's had no distractions this year and his work ethic has shone through and been unreal," Lockhart said.
"The more he plays with Thane Bardenhagen, Logan Reynolds and Wil Lockhart, the more they rub off on him. He has been unbelievable."
St Pats
Finished: Second
Coaches: Alex Russell and Jake Laskey
Most improved: Jacob Parker and Jacob Murphy
"Jacob Parker has been better than expected after coming to the club from Tamar Cats but in terms of blokes that have been at the club for a while, most improved would have to be Jacob Murphy," Russell said.
"This has been his best year by far and he's done a lot of work in his own time, building size and getting fitter and has been the difference between us winning several games this season."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
East Coast
Finished: Third
Coach: Ned Hyland
Most improved: Hamish Tate
"Hamish is one of our young, local guys who just started senior footy after a couple of years at the club," Hyland said.
"He was an inexperienced kid and we've now seen him turn into an experienced player who can spread into our midfield and has become one of our regular contributors."
Evandale
Finished: Fourth
Coach: James Storay
Most improved: Kieran Carlton
"He started the season hampered with injuries and has been extremely dedicated for the team in getting his body right and getting back out on the park as a lock-down defender," Storay said.
Old Launcestonians
Finished: Fifth
Coach: Paul Beechey
Most improved: Field Reeves
"It's not so much the most improved but the feel-good story for the year from our footy club is Field Reeves," Beechey said.
"After being someone who I thought might retire - suffering a horrific broken jaw last season and a broken arm and dislocated elbow this year - at his stage in life. The way he's taken back to the ground after those setbacks has been outstanding."
The development he's shown on the big forwards has been key.
- Meander Valley's Damien Rhind on Fergus Lawrence
Bridport
Finished: Sixth
Coach: Adam Howlett
Most improved: Jack Tregaskisjago, Jakob Whelan, Jake Blackwell
"Jack and Jakob are both first-year players who are still kind of learning the game and to come in and do what they've done for us is massive," Howlett said.
"Jake Blackwell is another one who is only 20 years old but playing centre-half forward and averaging 2-3 goals a game so we can't complain.
"Having those young fellas around our club to come in and play their role has been fantastic for us."
Meander Valley
Finished: Seventh
Coach: Damien Rhind
Most improved: Fergus Lawrence
"Before this year, Fergus had never played a full season of senior football and had only played school footy," Rhind said.
"He's developing into a key backman who consistently played on the better forwards in the competition. Some weeks he did well and others he faced challenges but the development he's shown on the big forwards has been key."
NTFA CENTRAL
Perth
Finished: Eighth
Coach: Josh Holton
Most improved: Steven Hill
"He's just so consistent. He's been training hard regularly to get himself fit for the season," Holton said.
"He wins a lot of his own ball and uses it to advantage to help the team."
Old Scotch
Finished: Ninth
Coach: Shaun Muller
Most improved: Ryan Sherriff
"Ryan won a few awards in this sort of realm at the footy club last weekend," Muller said.
"He came to us from Hillwood under-18s and in his first year of senior footy, he played every game - he's been terrific.
"His work ethic and want to get better has set the standard and encouraged those around him to get better."
Uni-Mowbray
Finished: 10th
Coach: Alan Perrin
Most improved: Zac Fleming
"Zac has taken on more responsibility this season after being a fringe senior player last year," Perrin said.
"He's been one of our best players without a doubt and he still has a couple of seasons left at the university so hopefully he sticks around."
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