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

[rhaz]

There are two memorable moments from Trac late last year which, if happening once or twice a game, would see him be incredibly damaging.

• Just that quick duck and weave in traffic, then the goal sense and strength to kick off one step. Great goal.

• Trac's work in this goal gets lost in the bigger moment of Jones kicking the goal. @ 0.05, the movement in traffic to get the pass out. So good.
• Also... note the T.Mac lead and bring the ball to ground. I don't think I saw him once get that high off the ground this year. He has to be carrying leg issue(s).

 

[CWaffles]

There are two memorable moments from Trac late last year which, if happening once or twice a game, would see him be incredibly damaging.

• Just that quick duck and weave in traffic, then the goal sense and strength to kick off one step. Great goal.

• Trac's work in this goal gets lost in the bigger moment of Jones kicking the goal. @ 0.05, the movement in traffic to get the pass out. So good.
• Also... note the T.Mac lead and bring the ball to ground. I don't think I saw him once get that high off the ground this year. He has to be carrying leg issue(s).

Watching those videos make me so sad that we are a disaster again.

Watching football last year was so much fun!

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

If I’m not mistaken he’s now our leading goal kicker for the year which is a pathetic reflection of where we are at given he’s only kicked 21 goals. But at the same time good on him - he’s not a superstar but it’d be ******* hard to be when you’re coached so poorly and play with a bunch of hacks, and he’s one of the few enjoyable assets we have to watch at the moment.

 

[TheCount]

If I’m not mistaken he’s now our leading goal kicker for the year which is a pathetic reflection of where we are at given he’s only kicked 21 goals. But at the same time good on him - he’s not a superstar but it’d be ******* hard to be when you’re coached so poorly and play with a bunch of hacks, and he’s one of the few enjoyable assets we have to watch at the moment.

If he had a decent team around him, he'd be turning some serious heads ... as it is, he's left to do a stupid amount of work himself, and while he's quietly putting together a seriously good season, it's going massively under the radar.

 

[saj_21]

He looked so dangerous in the first quarter when we had control of the game. We only had 39 inside 50s and I reckon 12-14 of those came in the first quarter.

 

[Cannon82]

If I’m not mistaken he’s now our leading goal kicker for the year which is a pathetic reflection of where we are at given he’s only kicked 21 goals. But at the same time good on him - he’s not a superstar but it’d be ******* hard to be when you’re coached so poorly and play with a bunch of hacks, and he’s one of the few enjoyable assets we have to watch at the moment.

In 2014, Chris Dawes led with 20, followed by Dom Tyson with 16 and James Frawley with 15. We finished 2nd last that year, with only the Saints beating us to the bottom end of the table.

We've come a long way in 5 years.

 

[omit]

If I’m not mistaken he’s now our leading goal kicker for the year which is a pathetic reflection of where we are at given he’s only kicked 21 goals. But at the same time good on him - he’s not a superstar but it’d be ******* hard to be when you’re coached so poorly and play with a bunch of hacks, and he’s one of the few enjoyable assets we have to watch at the moment.

He could probably have had an extra 10 goals this season if he would stop over thinking things and just kick for goal instead of trying a difficult pass to a player in a slightly better position

 

[Sylvia Saint]

If you look at the build-up to C Wagner's goal yesterday, it still highlights what's wrong with him. Often he'll do something brilliant them completely * it up by trying to be unselfish. He'll be a star if he starts taking those shots himself.

 

[Devastating Boris]

If you look at the build-up to C Wagner's goal yesterday, it still highlights what's wrong with him. Often he'll do something brilliant them completely fu** it up by trying to be unselfish. He'll be a star if he starts taking those shots himself.

He got a massive serve very early in for being selfish and it has stuck with him unfortunately.

 

[The Dr]

If you look at the build-up to C Wagner's goal yesterday, it still highlights what's wrong with him. Often he'll do something brilliant them completely fu** it up by trying to be unselfish. He'll be a star if he starts taking those shots himself.

What was impressive in that goal was his work rate. Worked hard to win the ball at halfback and ended up with multiple efforts inside attaching 50 when the ball was swept upfield.


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[Gysberts2Bate]

He got a massive serve very early in for being selfish and it has stuck with him unfortunately.

Same thing happened to JKH imo. He was flying early days until Dawes roasted him for kicking a goal once instead of handing off, and he was never the same.

 

[Topkent]

Same thing happened to JKH imo. He was flying early days until Dawes roasted him for kicking a goal once instead of handing off, and he was never the same.

Nah he was just never any good and Dawes was right to roast him for that

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Nah he was just never any good and Dawes was right to roast him for that

Eh. Had a perfectly good 2014 for a first year who’d never played as a small forward before.

 

[Topkent]

Eh. Had a perfectly good 2014 for a first year who’d never played as a small forward before.

In 14 games he kicked 9 goals and had less than 10 disposals in 8 of the games.
Spargo had less than 10 in 3 of his 18 games last year.

 

[ThePuppetMaster]

Having a really solid year given he's a high half forward in a team that's functioning poorly.

Most pleasingly, his effort and pressure has been super consistent, even if he's not finding the ball.

High impact player, if we can move him into the middle a bit more and get him to 23-25 touches a game he'll be a seriously damaging player.

 

[Grimesy87]

Can't wait to trade for Kieran Jack

 

[PerfectFooty]

Eh. Had a perfectly good 2014 for a first year who’d never played as a small forward before.

First half of 2014, like everyone else on the list we checked out after the essendon game

 

[Demon 16]

Petracca was one of the main ones who turned up fat and unfit at the start of the year.

He’s built a fitness base now and is looking really good.

 

[Devastating Boris]

Petracca was one of the main ones who turned up fat and unfit at the start of the year.

He’s built a fitness base now and is looking really good.

Looked really good in the moddle

 

[Tulip]

20 and 3

 

[Demon 16]

If he turns up lean and fit next year, we might see him go to the next level I suspect.

 

[Bluelegs]

If he turns up lean and fit next year, we might see him go to the next level I suspect.

It will certainly be interesting to see how Darren Burgess handles him.

 

[Toump Ass]

I want to marry him and have his kids.

When we stop being s**t he's going to tear teams apart. Bet your house on it.

He got a massive serve very early in for being selfish and it has stuck with him unfortunately.

Not the only one who appears to have adopted this "team first" mantra to the detriment of their performance. Was bloody annoying watching the Saints no-names ping sausages from all over the ground. Would love to see a few more of our players back themselves in.

 

[schmuttt]

He got a massive serve very early in for being selfish and it has stuck with him unfortunately.

All that bake did was kill his confidence further too. I’d rather Trac be selfish and decisive than sit there and second guess himself all the time. Nothing frustrates me more than forwards who are too scared to back themselves.

 

[stEdy]

Yep, our whole forward line has had their instinct and ruthlessness/selfishness coached out of them. Instead maybe Melksham who seems like a campaigner and won't listen to anyone. Surprise, surprise he's our most dangerous forward.

Obviously there's a balance to be struck but it's clearly swung too far in the opposite direction.