According to a poll conducted this week on collingwoodfc.com.au, captain Nick Maxwell is the fans’ choice as the Magpies' most improved player in 2009.

Over 750 collingwoodfc.com.au users voted, with 38 per cent voting for Maxwell. Emerging ruckman Cameron Wood was second with 19 per cent of the total vote, with Alan Toovey was third (17 per cent).

It was a huge season for Maxwell, who replaced Scott Burns as skipper at the end of 2008. He was awarded his first All Australian guernsey, earned the RT Rush Trophy for placing second in the Copeland Trophy, won the Gavin Brown Award for leading desire indicators for the fourth time, and tied with Heath Shaw for the Bob Rose Trophy as the club’s best player in finals.

Justifiably, Magpie fans have rated him the club’s most improved player.

Wood, who played 13 matches in 2009 for a career total of 42, put his talent on display and showed why the club gave up a first round draft pick in 2007 to lure him from the Brisbane Lions, while Toovey played 24 matches and had a breakout year as a negating running defender.

The final results of the poll are as follows:

Who was Collingwood's most improved player in 2009?
Nick Maxwell – 38%
Cameron Wood – 19%
Alan Toovey – 17%
John Anthony – 11%
Brad Dick – 11%
Other – 5%