One of the most satisfying sights for a coach is to witness the rise of a player who takes note of the direction given and then excels.
For senior coach Adam Simpson – as well as midfield mentors Brady Rawlings and Don Pyke – they must be delighted with the evolution of star midfielder Andrew Gaff.
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It is difficult to imagine the tough learning curve Gaff had to endure a couple of years when he found it hard to shake a tag.
He earned special attention because of his capacity to cover the ground and connect West Coast’s football from defence to attack. He was seen as a man who had to be stopped if the Eagles were to be beaten.
He is still seen in the same light, but merely sitting an opponent on him no longer gets the job done.
Gaff covers an incredible amount of ground, but plays as both an inside and outside midfielder, is effective at stoppages and has matured as a player.
That – and some important insights from Rawlings, who was a tagger of renown during a stellar career at North Melbourne – have contributed to his evolution.
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Consistently this year he has racked up over 30 possessions and collected another 35 disposals against the Hawks.
Individual honours do not drive players, but all-Australian honours beckon for this quality midfielder who will be a key factor in how far the club can progress in 2015.
