John Anthony
Jack had a 50-goal season, which is a good starting point for him to move on from now having had his first full season of senior footy. He showed that he's a good, strong, hard leader at the footy and he's an accurate kick. I think this season is a good foundation for Jack to get better and further develop.

Jaxson Barham
Jaxson played a handful of games in the AFL side, and was used as a midfielder and a defensive midfielder at times. He certainly showed that he's courageous – both in the air and on the ground. We'd be looking at Jaxson to continue his development over summer, perhaps put on a couple of kilos and get back into the midfield role.

Dayne Beams
He had a very good first-up season. He played about 20 games through the midfield and across half-forward. He won our best first-year player award, so that indicates that we were very pleased with Dayne's season. He was very consistent in terms of his ball-winning ability when he played. The recruiting staff weren't surprised by his performances. They thought he could come in and have an effect and they were proven correct.

Jarrad Blight
Jarrad certainly showed development in the VFL this year. He's very strong overhead and a very long kick. He adjusted to life as a full-time footballer as the season progressed. He was named as an emergency in the AFL side on one occasion, so that indicates he was in the thoughts of the match committee.

Leigh Brown
Leigh played every game bar two and was used in a number of different roles – forward, to help out in the ruck and also as a key defender. He was drafted as a utility player for exactly that reason and we were very pleased with Leigh's output for the season.

Nathan Brown
He started the season in a key defensive post and was carrying on from his good season last year. He lost his way a little bit – probably due to injury more than anything else – and then was injured again in his rehab towards the end of the year. It was a different injury but it really put a dent in Nathan's season. Both injuries were to his leg – one lower leg and one upper leg – but he'll be fine.

Chris Bryan
Bear had a consistent season in the VFL. He was used in the ruck and also as a key forward. He again showed at VFL level that he was excellent overhead, a terrific kick be it in field play or kicking for goal. He had a really good VFL season.

Marty Clarke
I think Marty played the first 12 games of the year in a row in the AFL team and was used as that running half-back type and then he went onto the wing. Marty really lost his position in the side because he had to return to Ireland for his sister's wedding. That coincided with our good run of wins and Marty couldn't break back into the senior side because the players that came in and replaced him in those areas were playing good footy. Sometimes that's just the way it goes.

Travis Cloke
He started the year slowly, but with Travis' great work ethic – his ability to not only work hard during a game but on the training track – we felt he got back into some form and certainly played a big part in our run towards finishing in the top four.

Ryan Cook
It was development year for Cooky in the VFL, although it was probably his third or fourth year in the AFL system. He was used as a midfielder, he increased his size and certainly increased his ball-winning ability. We'd be looking at Ryan being able to transfer from VFL into AFL next year.

Anthony Corrie
Anthony, like a number of our midfielders, found himself in quite good form in the VFL but was unable to get into the seniors. After about round eight, we played very consistent footy with almost the same group of players, so Anthony was in that boat where he just couldn't break in. He played across half-back and on the wing.

Shannon Cox
Shannon started the year in the seniors and played about the first five games. We know he's got an outstanding ability to read the play, win possession and use the ball and he displayed that on occasions. He had a couple of stints in the AFL team and it was a similar story for him as it was for a couple of others. When he lost his spot the back six settled and there weren't really any injuries after that. But Shannon is a player that we know has got good, quality skills for AFL football.

Leon Davis
He had an All-Australian year as a mid and a small forward and I think he was third for the season in tackles. He obviously had a terrific year.

Chris Dawes
It was a development year in the VFL for Dawesy. He developed his ability to lead at the football and mark in one-on-one contests. He's also improved his goalkicking. Again, similar to Ryan (Cook), no doubt Chris and also the club would be looking for him to transfer what he's learnt this year in the VFL into the AFL next year.

Brad Dick
He made a terrific comeback from a knee reconstruction, which was highlighted by a really good patch of form in the mid-part of the season. I also thought Brad was quite good in our finals campaign. He will only get better, too, given last season he didn't play at all due to his knee, so he'd be looking forward to a full pre-season.

Alan Didak
He made it to the initial 40-man squad for the All Australian team which was just reward for a very consistent season. His possession rate was very good and we know that Alan Didak uses the football very well. People will debate whether he played more as a midfielder but he played more up the ground, either through the midfield or as a high half-forward.

Josh Fraser
Our clearance work would indicate that Josh is part of a group that had a successful season. Unfortunately for him and for us, he was injured a couple of times and one [time] towards the end of the year and was therefore unable to get fully fit to partake in the finals. But he formed a very important part of our midfield.

Tyson Goldsack
Tyson was in and out at the start of the year, then found some consistent form in the VFL, was promoted and managed to not only hold his spot but contribute to what the back six were trying to achieve. He's athletic, can kick long and has a bit of pace.

Ben Johnson
Benny had a terrific pre-season and really earned his spot in the AFL team for the first handful of games before breaking his leg. It was testament to Ben's character with how well and how quickly he recovered from that, and then he got his spot straight back in the AFL because he worked hard and deserved it. He was used as a defensive midfielder and did a good job.

Tarkyn Lockyer
He played every game of the season which, for a small forward, is no mean feat. He contributed for us on the score sheet but also when we didn't have the football. He had a very good year.

Brent Macaffer
He finished the year in the AFL team and has shown us in a handful of games that he has the capabilities to be in the AFL side on a very regular basis. Now it'll be up to Brent to consolidate that over the pre-season and in early matches next year. The way footy's going, having players that can play all over the ground is essential. I think that's where Brent will fit into our structure. He'll be very valuable.

Nick Maxwell
In his first year as captain he led very well and took his own game up a notch in terms of work rate, possessions gained and also his marking was another area he really improved on. He was second in the Copeland Trophy which tells you he had a very good year.

John McCarthy
It was a frustrating year for John. He didn't have any major injuries but he had a couple of little niggling ones. He worked his way into the AFL side towards the end of the season and unfortunately wasn't coming from a strong fitness base because he missed the majority of the pre-season. We really want him to have an injury-free run at next year.

Paul Medhurst
He was injured towards the end of 2008 and therefore struggled to have a consistent presence during pre-season. To his credit, he got right for the start of the year but I think it was evident that he probably didn't have an injury-free run at everything. He's a goalkicker and a quality player so Paul will be working very hard over the pre-season to get himself back to the level of 2008.

Shane O’Bree
Again, he played the majority of the season in the midfield and that midfield group was very, very good. Shane is a vital cog in the way that midfield group operates as he works incredibly hard. His tackling is a feature.

Harry O’Brien
Harry was fourth in the best and fairest and is a player that we look to to shut down the opposition's dangerous forwards. He did that on a consistent basis.

Scott Pendlebury
He's similar to Shane O'Bree in that he's always at the coalface of what's going on at the stoppages. He showed how well he can read the play and he knows where to put the footy when he finds it. Unfortunately, he was another one who was injured towards the end of the season.

Simon Prestigiacomo
Similar to Alan Didak, he made the initial 40-man squad for the All Australian team. I thought that was great reward for his year. He plays on one of the opposition's two key forwards week in, week out. That's no mean feat in itself but he rarely has multiple goals kicked against him.

Ben Reid
It was a development year for Ben in the VFL. He played nearly every game as a key defender and he's learned and is still learning that trade of the game. He'll be looking at bringing that into the AFL and playing as a key defender.

Anthony Rocca
He battled with injury for most of the year but was terrific around the club, as everyone knows Anthony is. He got himself right later in the year and was a very good contributor in our final against St Kilda but unfortunately he injured his ankle. He's been a wonderful servant of this club for a long time and he'll be missed on and off the ground.

Luke Rounds
Luke's the youngest player on our list and is just learning what it's like to be a full-time, professional footballer. He still has all the characteristics that we drafted him for – he still has good pace and good ball-winning ability. He's now played a full season in the VFL which is great for his development. He's a utility type who can play half-back, wing or half-forward.

Sean Rusling
Again, unfortunately for Sean, the start of the season saw him recovering from injury. He broke his cheekbone in his first game back and then came back and hurt his leg. I think Sean, like a couple of other players around the competition, would just like to put in a full pre-season so he can get a run at it and show everybody, including himself, that he can play.

Heath Shaw
Heath was third in the best and fairest. He worked very hard over the pre-season and that was reflected in his very consistent form week in, week out. He formed part of what was a pretty good group in the back half.

Steele Sidebottom
Similar to Dayne Beams, Steele came in and was able to not only gain a place but hold a place in the senior side by contributing to the midfield group. He uses the ball very well and can play in a number of positions.

Danny Stanley
He had an outstanding VFL year and was right up there with all the statistics at that level. Due to the good form of the midfield group in the AFL side, he was unable to break into the seniors.

Dane Swan
Copeland Trophy winner, All Australian, more possessions than anyone in the history of the game ... he's had a pretty good year. I'd say it'll be more of the same for him next year although people like Dane Swan are always looking to take their game to the next level. I've got no doubt Dane will be looking at that. What that level looks like, I’m not sure.

Dale Thomas
Daisy became part of the midfield group and worked really hard in and around the stoppages. This season I think he became more of a mid than a forward. He's a player that has the ability to run and carry the footy, which is really important.

Alan Toovey
I think Alan only missed one game for the year, and when your side has made it all the way through to a preliminary final and you've only missed one game that indicates that you're doing something right. This year Alan showed us all that when he gets the footy he's got good pace and is a long kick, which is something we can certainly use to our advantage.

Sharrod Wellingham
Similar to Daisy, he came in and became more a part of the midfield this year. I think he would have played 14 or 15 games for the year. Sharrod has sure hands, which he displayed, he's able to break away from a stoppage and use his pace and he's also a long kick.

Cameron Wood
A developing ruckman who's good in the hit-outs and showed on occasions that when he goes forward he can actually take a mark and kick a goal. I'm sure he will continue to develop. I think more size comes naturally, with time, with the big fellas. He's only 21, 22. I think in a couple of years he'll be a very, very solid man.

Rookie list

Johnny Bennell
He's a very pacy goalsneak-type player. He'll be looking forward to completing a full pre-season so he can use those attributes, plus his really good kicking skills, which might take him further up the ground.

Jarryd Blair
Jarryd is a very hard-at-it midfielder who played really well in the VFL and had a good finals series. His work at clearing the footy from stoppages was very good and he'll look at developing on that.

Kevin Dyas
Kevin was trialled as a small defender and then had a bit of a go at being a defensive midfielder. He was a late starter to the season because he was recovering from quite a severe hamstring injury, but when he got into the side he contributed really well at VFL level and showed that he’s a capable Australian rules player.

Tristan Francis
He was a player that was used in a number of positions this year – back, in the midfield and up forward. He has a nice kick and is very hard at it, but missed a fair chunk of the second half of the year with injury. I'm sure Tristan wants to get rid of those injuries for the start of pre-season and go from there.

Lachlan Keeffe
Part of the VFL strategy is to develop players. Lachy, at 203cm, spent some time in the ruck but also as a key forward and a key back. He was very much learning the game as this was his first full season of Australian rules footy, and I think he showed a good level of development.

Scott Reed
As with Lachy, it was his first full season of Australian rules footy from the NSW scholarship. It was a different type of football for him in that he was immersed in what it's like to be an elite-level footballer. As the season went, Scott's game developed accordingly.

Toby Thoolen
Toby continued to play in a key defensive post. He rarely had multiple goals kicked on him and was able to increase his possession rate this season. Toby, like many of his teammates, showed good development.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.