WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

[Alcho Dee 269]

Just going to put out some positives for Petracca, extremely good junior basketballer, 92kg, high possession winner, can play half forward. This guy will be a gun I see him as a Dustin Martin, Oliver Wines, Scott Pendlebury.

Surely we keep pick 2 for him, as St Kilda will take Mccartin.

[SaberFang 7,151]

Just going to put out some positives for Petracca, extremely good junior basketballer, 92kg, high possession winner, can play half forward. This guy will be a gun I see him as a Dustin Martin, Oliver Wines, Scott Pendlebury.

Surely we keep pick 2 for him, as St Kilda will take Mccartin.

We're taking Brayshaw if we have any picks inside the top 3 at the draft.

[Adzman 2,153]

I feel McCartin will go #1 if the saints hold on to it. He is exactly what they need, and will be rebuilding for a few years which will allow him to develop under Riewoldt's tutelage. Petracca and Brayshaw at 2 and 3 is a possibility. Although, I am intrigued by Wright, I think we will go with 2 mids if given the chance.

[Whispering_Jack 29,191]

The first of the AFL's series on high draft hopefuls ~ Going places: When draft young gun Christian Petracca said yes to footy and no to an NBA dream

I thought you really had to be exceptional to make it in the NBA (even as a point guard) if you were only 186cm tall.

[rjay 24,593]

The first of the AFL's series on high draft hopefuls ~ Going places: When draft young gun Christian Petracca said yes to footy and no to an NBA dream

I thought you really had to be exceptional to make it in the NBA (even as a point guard) if you were only 186cm tall.

Wouldn't make as good a story though 'Jack'.

[Adam The God 29,358]

I feel McCartin will go #1 if the saints hold on to it. He is exactly what they need, and will be rebuilding for a few years which will allow him to develop under Riewoldt's tutelage. Petracca and Brayshaw at 2 and 3 is a possibility. Although, I am intrigued by Wright, I think we will go with 2 mids if given the chance.

Well, given we've barely touched our midfield this off season, after saying everyone's tradeable, you'd bloody hope we'd look to invest in our C grade (B grade if I'm being extremely kind) midfield.

[rjay 24,593]

Well, given we've barely touched our midfield this off season, after saying everyone's tradeable, you'd bloody hope we'd look to invest in our C grade (B grade if I'm being extremely kind) midfield.

Rather than our 'F' troop forward line?

[Redleg 40,149]

Rather than our 'F' troop forward line?

Garlett Dawes Howe

Watts/Gawn/Fitzy Hogan JKH/Kent

Not "A Grade" but wouldn't say that is "F Troop."

[rjay 24,593]

Garlett Dawes Howe

Watts/Gawn/Fitzy Hogan JKH/Kent

Not "A Grade" but wouldn't say that is "F Troop."

Only one proven quality forward in that lot 'Redleg', and he's coming off a bad season.

[beelzebub 23,198]

The first of the AFL's series on high draft hopefuls ~ Going places: When draft young gun Christian Petracca said yes to footy and no to an NBA dream

I thought you really had to be exceptional to make it in the NBA (even as a point guard) if you were only 186cm tall.

surely the media never embellishes thing !!!

[Redleg 40,149]

Only one proven quality forward in that lot 'Redleg', and he's coming off a bad season.

Don't think they are F Troop though.

I reckon the boy at ff might go ok.

[rjay 24,593]

Don't think they are F Troop though.

I reckon the boy at ff might go ok.

So do I, the comment is more about those who keep talking about our poor midfield but I would suggest our forward line may now be worse. Of course Hogan and Garlett will add a lot and Howe being able to roam the forward half rather than being a key target will also help.

On current performance our forward line in very, very poor on future outlook it looks better but we still have a very long way to go before we start discounting KPF's in the draft.

[Nasher 33,607]

Don't think they are F Troop though.

I reckon the boy at ff might go ok.

The problem is that we have a 0 game player as the piece de resistance. I like Hogan and reckon he'll be a star too, but I think we need to come to terms with the fact that he'll probably struggle at times and when he does, our forward line probably will be the F troop like it was this year.

[jackaub 1,402]

The problem is that we have a 0 game player as the piece de resistance. I like Hogan and reckon he'll be a star too, but I think we need to come to terms with the fact that he'll probably struggle at times and when he does, our forward line probably will be the F troop like it was this year.

Exactly Nash

We dont know yet if he will dominate at FF yet or not Here's hoping!

If he doesn't we will be struggling to both kick goals and prevent quick rebounds. As I have said before the best way to control the game is to mark the ball in your 50

[P-man 13,366]

The problem is that we have a 0 game player as the piece de resistance. I like Hogan and reckon he'll be a star too, but I think we need to come to terms with the fact that he'll probably struggle at times and when he does, our forward line probably will be the F troop like it was this year.

The forwardline will also be +Howe +Garlett +a fully fit Dawes.

[rjay 24,593]

The forwardline will also be +Howe +Garlett +a fully fit Dawes.

Garlett is the only one with runs (goals) on the board though.

[Nasher 33,607]

The forwardline will also be +Howe +Garlett +a fully fit Dawes.

Howe stunk as a forward this year but has been better in the past,and Garlett only helps if he's out of his 2014 headspace. Dawes may be aided by fitness and/or Hogan taking another tall...

We could and should improve but it's a lot of ifs and buts - I'm not saying we will be as crud as we were last year in the forward 50, I'm just prepared for the fact that at times we might be. If Hogan was a 50-100 game veteran I'd be more confident.

And none of that would influence my decision on McCartin vs Petracca

[Redleg 40,149]

The problem is that we have a 0 game player as the piece de resistance. I like Hogan and reckon he'll be a star too, but I think we need to come to terms with the fact that he'll probably struggle at times and when he does, our forward line probably will be the F troop like it was this year.

I think the problem with our forward line this year was twofold, the mids getting beaten and therefore not enough entries inside F50 and the fact that we basically only had one key forward for most of the year.

Dawes when he got right was basically double teamed for most of the time and had little influence.

We would then have Gawn, who was basically starved of opportunity as his leads or making position were often overlooked and he is not a true forward.

Fitzy kicked a couple in each of his late games and if Hogan and Howe were also up forward I think Fitzy could get one out and maintain those two goals per game. He is quicker than any tall back and too tall for a medium sized defender. He could be very useful as the 3rd or 4th key forward.

We then have Watts to throw forward as well, as a 3rd or 4th key forward and he only needs a few possessions to kick a couple each week.

Garlett, JKH and Kent are ok small forwards and will hopefully see more ball in the F50 this year.

I keep oscillating between McCartin and mid. Our need is for mids and we get one in Brayshaw, another in Billy and we probably need to use this high pick to get another quality one. Lever can play in several positions and is actually taller than McCartin and may in time assume a key position.

[Whispering_Jack 29,191]

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

Hes an incredible talent, hes worked pretty hard to get his fitness up and has reaped the rewards. Being a bigger body as well hes been able to dominate the competition with his size and explosiveness.

ANGUS BRAYSHAW (likely No.2 pick)

Hes someone you look at and go, How did he do that? Hes bloody hard at it, hes a big fella and he just does everything he can to get his team to win.

PADDY McCARTIN (likely No.3 pick)

Hes so strong, once its in his hands you cant tackle him, let alone get him to ground. He plays in the midfield and then he can go and play as a tall forward and probably jump at the same height as Peter Wright.

AFL Draft Pick Me: Christian Petracca has AFL-ready body and is set to be the No.1 draft pick

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,283]

I am so glad we don't have to pick between McCartin and Petracca. Very happy to take whoever Saints don't.

[dazzledavey36 52,738]

His name will be read first thing next thursday night.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Brayshaw and Petracca would be unbelievable for this club.

Would be very happy with Brayshaw and McCartin too.

In some respects, having picks 2 and 3 is probably as good as having picks 1 & 2 in this draft.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,353]

His name will be read first thing next thursday night.

sauce?

[Moonshadow 17,505]

His name will be read first thing next thursday night.

Or last thing, if they do that stupid countdown.

[Deecisive 1,709]

Brayshaw and Petracca would be unbelievable for this club.

Would be very happy with Brayshaw and McCartin too.

In some respects, having picks 2 and 3 is probably as good as having picks 1 & 2 in this draft.

In our case its probably better, the quality of the player is as good without the noise that would surround another melbourne 1st draft pick.