Player Watch #5: Christian Petracca – Norm Smith Medallist, 4 x All-Australian and 2 x Best and Fairest

[Tempy Tiger]

Problem is, we are all calling for basically everyone bar Gawn and Salem to be dropped Who’s playing seniors? Goody, Chappy, Rooke and co?

 

[Topkent]

Yeah bit unfair to be saying his career is over when if you just started watching footy this year there's about 20 worse than him.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Really have no idea who this Misson is, but I’ve heard enough the last few weeks to hate him.

He's our elite performance manager. In charge of getting our players fit

He’s a useless campaigner, clearly

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Its weird that De Goey probably beats Trac in a one on one strength battle and is 20kgs lighter visually

Don’t get the obsession with comparing him to de goey. De goey is a better player, that annoys me, but why the constant comparisons?

 

[Demonkings]

Don’t get the obsession with comparing him to de goey. De goey is a better player, that annoys me, but why the constant comparisons?

Same draft, play almost identical roles on the field. ie. We could have selected De Goey instead of Petracca.

 

[Topkent]

Don’t get the obsession with comparing him to de goey. De goey is a better player, that annoys me, but why the constant comparisons?

2 and 5 in the draft
Both power players
Both forward mids
X factor blah blah

There's no reason Petracca couldn't lose 5kgs

 

[Topkent]

Although De Goey is a footballer who's becoming a better athlete. Petracca looks like an athlete trying to learn football

 

[AmericanAFL]

I say we move him forward or try him in the back. Anywhere but where he’s playing now.

 

[PerfectFooty]

I say we move him forward or try him in the back. Anywhere but where he’s playing now.

Mostly been forward so far this year. played some mid time on Wednesday though, which i didn't mind early on, but i felt like they took him out to quick

 

[AmericanAFL]

Mostly been forward so far this year. played some mid time on Wednesday though, which i didn't mind early on, but i felt like they took him out to quick

Has he been full forward? If so, I guess we can scrap that idea.

 

[ABray10]

Definitely needs to play four solid weeks in the VFL midfield. Gather 120 touches to get his hands on it and run his ass off.

 

[Bazza97]

Would like to see him spend more time on-ball. Right now, Viney is going to be out for a couple of weeks at least so I think the opportunity is there for Petracca to play through the midfield more. He did play through there a bit against Richmond but starting next week against Hawthorn, I think he should play as much as he can on-ball. Long-term I think he should be developed to play primarily in the midfield as I think that's where he can best reach his potential and improve.

 

[demondavey]

Right now if he isn’t injured the best place is on ball. He won’t get match fit by not being in a game situation unless he goes to the VFL. Seriously, our season is done, he might as well have a month in the middle to see what he can do.

At year end, and if the right outside player becomes available, I’ve no issues packaging him up with a pick and trading him. Unless he does something this year that screams ‘keep me forever a Demon’ then we could enhance our list around and without him.

 

[demondavey]

Definitely needs to play four solid weeks in the VFL midfield. Gather 120 touches to get his hands on it and run his ass off.

I reckon we keep him in the ones if he isn’t injured, throw him to the wolves in the middle. Needs to step up.

 

[Crimson Azure]

Although De Goey is a footballer who's becoming a better athlete. Petracca looks like an athlete trying to learn football

Sam Frost in a Michelin man suit?

You hear it here first.

 

[mrmonkey]

I like the idea of him just running with opposition midfielders just so he can learn how much he needs to run, when to run, where to run ect. The problem is he isn't fit enough. Maybe a solid month in the vfl could help with confidence and decision making. I wouldn't trade him, but he needs a big pre season. Maybe oliver can take him under his wing to help him shed some kgs.

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

I like the idea of him just running with opposition midfielders just so he can learn how much he needs to run, when to run, where to run ect. The problem is he isn't fit enough. Maybe a solid month in the vfl could help with confidence and decision making. I wouldn't trade him, but he needs a big pre season. Maybe oliver can take him under his wing to help him shed some kgs.

The only opposition midfielder I’d feel comfortable putting him on is Dom Tyson

 

[Topkent]

The only opposition midfielder I’d feel comfortable putting him on is Dom Tyson

What about Tom Dyson

 

[blitznu]

I like the idea of him just running with opposition midfielders just so he can learn how much he needs to run, when to run, where to run ect. The problem is he isn't fit enough. Maybe a solid month in the vfl could help with confidence and decision making. I wouldn't trade him, but he needs a big pre season. Maybe oliver can take him under his wing to help him shed some kgs.

I reckon all he actually needs is a full pre season. Lost weight was supposedly going awse then did his knee and obviously pasta boy needs to putting in the ks all preseason. Hes yet to have a full preseason isnt he?

 

[deeco]

Sink or swim?

 

[CWaffles]

Petracca turned 23 this year..... prime time

 

[rhaz]

That shot on goal.... yuck.

Not great signs.

 

[demondavey]

I still don’t rate him. If we can send him off somewhere for a gun outside midfielder I’d do it in a heartbeat.

 

[00Stinger]

That shot on goal.... yuck.

Not great signs.

That mark to earn that shot on goal was ******* sublime though.

 

[00Stinger]

I still don’t rate him. If we can send him off somewhere for a gun outside midfielder I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Dying seconds of the game the ball in dispute just outside the Hawthorn 50. Petracca bumps a Hathorn player, breaks another tackle and as he is about to been gang tackled by two Hawks players he boots the ball forward in effect winning the game.