Best First Year Player : Josh HILL - 20 matches, 1451 points @ 72. Decreased $28,600
Another club with no real first year player to speak of, the Eagles stuck with their regular players in a bid to get close to the Grand Final. HILL played his first year at the Eagles, so is the next best bet, and he had a fairly solid year,
Most Improved Player : Andrew GAFF - 22 matches, 1988 points @ 90 Increased $69,700
One who snuck under the radar a little, the raking left-footer GAFF has provided youth and spark to the Eagles in a very consistent 2012. A link man who is all class, GAFF increased his SC average from 61 in 2011 to 90 in 2012 – almost a 50% rise. With 10 games over 100 and a top score of 121, this youngster is certainly one to consider in 2013.
Best Buy : Nic NAITANUI - 20 matches, 2284 points @ 114 Increased $70,100
2012 will go down as the year NICNAT showed the football world exactly what he is capable of. The excitement machine was SC gold this year, with fifteen games over 100 and 3 games over 150, finishing with an average of 114 pts per game (Up from 93 in 2011). With a top score of 185, NICNAT proved he is almost unstoppable when he is on his game. The must have ruckman for 2013.
Worst Buy : Andrew EMBLEY - 6 matches, 318 points @ 53 Decreased $163,800
In 2011 EMBLEY averaged 96 pts per game from 21 matches – a nice stat line. Fast forward 12 months and he has become a fantasy disaster. Ravaged by a shoulder injury, he only played the first 2 games in 2012, then the last 4 – and struggled in almost all of them. At a loss of almost $200,000 (and a wasted trade if you had him early on), EMBLEY is one to avoid in 2013.
2013 Prospects
Sharrod WELLINGHAM - Whilst not in the elite class at Collingwood, WELLINGHAM is still a very handy player and could relish the wide open spaces in Perth. At just 24 years old, he averaged 81 pts per game this year, with 3 games over 100. If his foot disposal can improve, he could be one to watch.
Cale MORTON - What a strange career MORTON has had to this point. Pick No. 7 in the 2007 draft, he showed early promise (Av 84 in 2009) before falling in a big hole lately. At just 22, he could still be a player – perhaps some quality players around him might bring that out? Very interesting in 2013.
Most Prolific
1. Dean COX (R) - 2470 @ 112
2. Scott SELWOOD (M) - 2289 @ 104
3. Nic NAITANUI (R) - 2284 @ 114
4. Matt PRIDDIS (M) - 2199 @ 110
5. Shannon HURN (D) - 2010 @ 91
11. Jack DARLING - 1670 @ 76 (Top Forward)