Is it appropriate to use canonical for a yearly post with similar content?

[ServiceCrowd_AU]

I've begun writing an annual review of local business directories.

Post from 2012 is here: http://web.servicecrowd.com.au/blog/top-10-australian-business-directories-in-2012/

New 2014 post is here: http://web.servicecrowd.com.au/blog/top-10-australian-business-directories-2014/

Is this appropriate use?

Next year the post will be similar, but different metrics reported and slightly different review.

Side note: For some reason the post hasn't been indexed by Google yet. Usually new posts are indexed as soon as they are shared on social media.

[GPainter]

Canonical is great for posts that are the same, as these posts are not and they represent different statistics I would say not.

If a user wants to find a review of directories in 2012 then the canonical would stop this and thus the user wouldn't be able to get that.

in short- No

[AlanMosley]

Probably not, you have only a handful of post and this is not a problem as far as duplicate content goes.
if you want them all to rank, then don't canonical them a only one will rank, try adding a paragraph of unique text to each.

[RobMay]

My suggestion would be to go beyond creating 'yearly' top lists for the site (these are old and tired). Look to create an 'Evergreen' content page that you can use and leverage year over year, build on and create a community and discussion around. Discuss the changes each year by revamping the list, ask people their input (UGC) and discuss why some of the one's that fell, did, while also pointing out new one's didn't fall and why

By creating a page like this - you leverage the long term effect of a page that never gets old, or outdated (as one does with regards to a specified URL like 2012 or 2014) in your examples. This will also help you create a very strong profile from a backlink perspective as your links will accumulate into 1 evergreen/lasting URL - that never gets outdated with yearly updates you will make. Might want to use the META information for data posted and date expired to ensure that the crawlers know to come back and recrawl when a page is live. Ensure it's mapped and setup properly in the Sitemap XML file too

I think the advantages of moving towards this will help your link profile, leverage a great piece of content year over year, making it move 'sharable' from a social media perspective and leverage long-term value.

Just my 2 cents to help you out

Cheers, Rob