Past #20: Drew Petrie - NM '01-'16 (324gms/428gls) - WCE '17 (8gms/16gls) - thx for everything Drew

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Howard Littlejohn

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
May 30, 2006
Posts
13,359
Likes
6,754
Location
Canberra
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Disclaimer: don't have Fox, didn't see today's game.
He's never been that good as a forward against decent opposition. I'm not convinced that its ever been the best part of ground for him. It really has been that he kicked a few against the likes of Melbourne, and occasionally against some mid-quality teams, that he has stayed there. I have felt for a long time that he could have been more valuable at CHB and switching into the ruck (where he started) occasionally. Unfortunately others haven't come on as hoped to allow that. (eg Hansen)

I thought he was pretty good in poor condiitons at the SCG though. Not great numbers, but contested well when things didn't suit. We need to consider his place, whether its a move or out of the team is the debateI guess.
 

Tas

Premium Gold
Joined
Dec 23, 2002
Posts
52,062
Likes
33,014
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
There can be only one...
Just doesn't perform consistently, at some point in time we have to raise the standards and raise the expectation or we will just make up the numbers.

We have too many guys who can't hit targets or perform under pressure. If the player doesn't change and the club keeps picking them then there is only one certainty, we wont win a flag again until it changes.

Petrie should demand as the stand in captain that he be dropped for returning an out on the full and a behind from two set shots from 40m out dead in front, if Scott wont drop him he has to drop himself. He needs to go into the VFL and find some form, he is letting the club down, his team mates down and the supporters down when he can't ice those ones when the team needs him to.
 

The Big H

Club Legend
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Posts
2,946
Likes
1,106
Location
Launnie
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Kangaroos
While our half forwards and forward pockets continually push into the defensive 50 he will be required to chase around speedy half backs all day and be continually too far out of our own F50 or out of position when we do win the ball back. When our players stop just flooding back to fill space with no accountability and allow better overlap run, and faster ball movement with forwards hitting up we may see Drew play the role we want him to play!
 
Joined
Jun 9, 2001
Posts
20,854
Likes
50,078
Location
Windy Hill Safe Injecting Room
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
St Johnstone
Moderator #1,707
Drew doesn't deserve some of the invective in this thread but thankfully there's plenty of reasoned posts too.

The bloke busts a gut every week for the club. Sadly he's just not getting the rewards too often this season.

I've said it before, I'll say it again - leadership is Drew's kryptonite.

I hate it. Really do. He's a bloke I'd love to be a great captain of the NMFC. Great guy, loyal servant and at his best a powerful matchwinner. But I suspect because of his introverted, reflective nature he heaps so much pressure on himself when he's in charge it almost breaks him.

Don't know what to do. He shouldn't be dropped because he is working bloody hard. Does he approach Brad and volunteer to give up the stand-in captaincy? What would that say about his character? And what should Brad do in that scenario, accept the resignation and reinforce the feeling of failure or refuse in a show of solidarity?

For everyone, really hope that some good results start coming Drew's way soon.

It seems comical to question why he got a 2 year deal. The bloke was playing great footy the last few seasons in a tough position and showed loyalty to stick around and not test FA. Bit of respect deserved.
 

danj

Club Legend
Joined
Feb 12, 2007
Posts
2,422
Likes
2,004
Location
Peoples Republic of Fitzroy
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Liverpool, Fitzroy
First up, I'd like to keep this thread moderately constructive. As we head towards a loss I realise it is probably wishful thinking on my part.

His numbers this season are pretty underwhelming, but it's the way he is going about it which is most concerning. He is well and truly off the boil in pretty much every aspect, but his marking in particular is a concern.

He seems incapable of protecting the drop zone, or taking a mark under pressure full stop. This is something which plenty of key forwards have had to deal with in their twilight years. Matthew Lloyd is one.

For reasons unknown he was signed to a two year deal last season, so no doubt this thread has a lot of life in it.

Please share your thoughts. Please check your emotions at the door. Comparing him to Carey or McKernan is utterly foolish.

Try to remember we're talking about a player who has battled hard for us during some pretty dark days.
Thanks BD love Drew but it's time to pass on the baton :thumbsu: Best way Drew can contribute frOm here on in is Currie role as second ruckman
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Angus1

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Posts
5,276
Likes
150
Location
At the races
AFL Club
North Melbourne
He stands too rigid in the forward line. Simple as that.
When he goes for a run down the ground he finds a way to take a few marks and gets involved but it's because he is moving.

He needs to start making leads again. If he makes a solid lead and demands the ball then our guys should be able to put it out in front of him and he should take the mark . All of a sudden he looks a whole lot better.
Standing flat footed and trying to out mark fullbacks well that's never going to happen for Drew.
Most defenses work in numbers are able to spoil tall immobile forwards very easily.
Why we didn't do the same thing to Cloke in the first half is another story.
 

Firebat

Club Legend
Joined
Feb 23, 2010
Posts
1,547
Likes
860
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
C's
I'll hold off until Taz returns.

I don't feel confident when he's taking a set shot on goal though, and as a key forward you'd want to kick goals... After taking marks and that.
 

RobZombie

Premium Platinum
Joined
May 18, 2012
Posts
6,107
Likes
14,731
Location
Back In Town
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Other Teams
Jays, Leafs
I hate the idiotic "Flat Track Bully" comments on the MB and even more so here. It's a stupid way of framing where Petrie fits in the spectrum of quality key forwards. My take:

He's good enough to be a productive member of a functioning attacking setup and not good enough to carry a dysfunctional attack by himself. I think he's been thereabouts for a few years now. Before the kamikaze running attack of the last couple of years we used to complain about bombing it on his head to a 1-on-2 contest. We develop fast ball movement and the Triple Towers(tm) and suddenly he gets enough 1-on-1 contests and honoured leads to kick some goals. Now we have a more deliberate attack[1] and once again not putting it to his advantage often enough.

He still does the non-FF things well: gets on his bike and presents up the ground; makes contests and brings the ball to ground; goes back when the situation calls for it. Might soon be outweighed by his lack of goal production.

There's every chance that age is catching up to him this year and it's been obscured by poor delivery and offensive systems. In fact it seems likely given his age. My gut feeling is still that he'll see out this year as our best KPF option and hopefully not be an automatic selection next year. I did say to my Collingwood supporting mate at the game yesterday "you watch - he'll miss this because it matters" before both set shots. So I guess that's not good.

[1] A definite worry for me; see also Tas' "On the Attack" and Pykie's concerns about number of inside-50s.
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Posts
34,560
Likes
43,525
Location
Hate Hut
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Moderator #1,717
I think he's done. Which is not to detract from the man himself, who has been a sensational clubman and an excellent footballer.

Not entirely convinced that Tarrant coming back will be the answer to Drew's woes either. I just don't see it in him anymore.
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Posts
34,560
Likes
43,525
Location
Hate Hut
AFL Club
North Melbourne
Moderator #1,722
I think he's done. Which is not to detract from the man himself, who has been a sensational clubman and an excellent footballer.

Not entirely convinced that Tarrant coming back will be the answer to Drew's woes either. I just don't see it in him anymore.
lmao
 
Top Bottom