In the first part of a post-season special series, lions.com.au takes a look at the top three most improved players at the Lions this year. Do you agree?
Marco Paparone
Showing himself to be the ultimate utility in his first two seasons, young defender Marco Paparone has found a home in the Lions' back six.
Sharing his time between key position and running half-back, the West Australian product has come on in leaps and bounds in 2015. The 20-year-old’s elite running ability allows him to leave his man, find space, and be an ideal link between the defensive 50 and midfield.
Paparone's best game in 2015 was in Round 10 against GWS, where he finished with 25 disposals and 11 marks. This good form continued throughout much of the season, where he led the Lions’ rebound 50s (79).
While there is still room for improvement for Paparone (he is occasionally caught out of possession and beaten in one-on-one contests against bigger bodied opponents) it is clear that, the more he plays, the more comfortable he looks.
Paparone’s year-on-year indicators also show much promise; his disposal average climbing to 18.9 from 13.6 and marks rising to 6.4 from 3.9 in 2014.
Nick Robertson
The 20-year old, known for his aggression at the contest, was drafted to the Lions from West Perth at the end of 2013 and has made a strong impression in his second season at the Gabba, despite missing a series of games through injury (Robertson returned to the NEAFL after Round 18 and suffered a season-ending hamstring injury).
Robertson has become a firm fan-favourite as a result of his hard-playing style and commitment to the game, playing both half-back and as a capable midfielder. He recorded a disposal high of 24 in Round 5 against the Gold Coast Suns, where he also took 10 marks.
Without hampered by injury, Robertson will aim to have a strong preseason and to continue to impress in 2016.
Justin Clarke
Few carry as great a load of responsibility on such young shoulders as Justin Clarke.
After being drafted from relative obscurity at the 2011 AFL Rookie Draft, Clarke has rapidly become one of the most promising young key defenders in the AFL.
At 195cm with terrific speed (he ran 2.97sec for 20m at the State Draft Combine in 2011), he is a long-term prospect for the Lions' backline and has carried extra load as a leader this year with the long-term injury to Dan Merrett.
In Merrett’s absence, Clarke was forced to play closest to goal where he watched the game unfold from the last line of defence and also called the shots for the inexperienced back six.
The 21-year old is ranked 9th in the league for one-percenter’s (138). The little extra efforts which make turnovers more likely. The four actions which constitute a one-percenter according to official AFL statistics are knock-ons, spoils, smothers, and shepherds.
With another pre-season under his belt, the South Australian will be looking to progress further in his development next season.
