Petracca talk is interesting and optimistic. Not sure where I sit on it. Some considerations
- I reckon the list needs a stoppage winner, first possession guy in the midfield mix. Second preference would be a big bodied defensive stopper (but think Peatling in an expanded role would be fine at either of these). Berry isn't it. Soligo's solid on the outside and has some class. Dawson's versatile, but more offensive minded. Rankine is an offensive weapon. We need to compliment what we already have.
- Swann seems adamant on speeding the game up and reducing stoppages. Last disposal out of bounds, 5 on the bench, etc. etc. - reducing total stoppages will make them less important. So a little less need for the above & outside class & running power/defensive running becomes more important.
- Petracca is neither a dominant first possession guy, solid defensive guy, or solid runner.
- Petracca isn't the same player he once was, but we've seen with old guys (even Tex at our end), they can take a couple of pre-seasons to recover from injuries and get back to their best. We write them off as over the hill but then with some continuity they have a resurgence - Gunston, Pendles, Sidebottom, Howe, Melksham spring to mind. So he might get back to his best and be a real difference maker.
I reckon if he's there, we go for it. You've gotta be better than 17 teams to win one, so swing for the fences and don't play it safe & be 'a good team for a long time'. Especially with this draft being a bit rubbish. But I'd hope we're working options to look at more affordable players that might compliment what we already have a little better too - creativity and pressure in the forward line, stoppage craft/defense through the middle, and probably a better distributor in defence. Guys like Rowbottom & Davies spring to mind.
- I reckon the list needs a stoppage winner, first possession guy in the midfield mix. Second preference would be a big bodied defensive stopper (but think Peatling in an expanded role would be fine at either of these). Berry isn't it. Soligo's solid on the outside and has some class. Dawson's versatile, but more offensive minded. Rankine is an offensive weapon. We need to compliment what we already have.
- Swann seems adamant on speeding the game up and reducing stoppages. Last disposal out of bounds, 5 on the bench, etc. etc. - reducing total stoppages will make them less important. So a little less need for the above & outside class & running power/defensive running becomes more important.
- Petracca is neither a dominant first possession guy, solid defensive guy, or solid runner.
- Petracca isn't the same player he once was, but we've seen with old guys (even Tex at our end), they can take a couple of pre-seasons to recover from injuries and get back to their best. We write them off as over the hill but then with some continuity they have a resurgence - Gunston, Pendles, Sidebottom, Howe, Melksham spring to mind. So he might get back to his best and be a real difference maker.
I reckon if he's there, we go for it. You've gotta be better than 17 teams to win one, so swing for the fences and don't play it safe & be 'a good team for a long time'. Especially with this draft being a bit rubbish. But I'd hope we're working options to look at more affordable players that might compliment what we already have a little better too - creativity and pressure in the forward line, stoppage craft/defense through the middle, and probably a better distributor in defence. Guys like Rowbottom & Davies spring to mind.
