WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

[Redleg 37,909]

His name will be read first thing next thursday night.

You mean after the waffle from the AFL guys and the Fox commentators.

[TRIGON 4,719]

Garlett Dawes Howe

Watts/Gawn/Fitzy Hogan JKH/Kent

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

O'Rourke Parmintar Agarn

Where TheHecks TheBall

[BrisbaneDemon 1,501]

I hope this kid can deal with the hype of going number one, to be compared with Dusty Martins speed and Ollie Wines Power wont be easy to live up to expectations.

[DeeSpencer 23,318]

I hope this kid can deal with the hype of going number one, to be compared with Dusty Martins speed and Ollie Wines Power wont be easy to live up to expectations.

Our consecutive number 1 picks were compared to Nick Riewoldt and Chris Judd, so really Martin and Wines should be easy enough!

Petracca has the body (particularly after a solid preseason building fitness) to impact early. And he has the ball winning ability. That's really his strength - he can win it in the air or on the ground better than any kid, so he should be fine. And because he's come from the background of a forward he will start there before moving up the ground. Really in a lot of ways he's very well suited to the number 1 pick.

[monoccular 16,290]

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

Please remind me how many games Jeremy played as a forward this year?

[the fork 357]

Surely the fact that the Saints we're offered Pick 4 & 7 for Pick 1 means that Petracca is a lock for 1?

If they were after a forward at 1 then they could have opted for Wright (4) and snagged a decent mid at (7).

Saints will take Petracca at 1, we'll take Brayshaw at 2, but given Roo's comments regarding teenage talls I don't really consider McCartin a lock at 3. Roos knows how desperate we (fans) are to start playing competitively sooner rather than later. I'd like him, though he looks sluggish to me on his highlights reel, but what the hell do I know? Wouldn't be surprised if we pull someone out of the hat at 3.

Question: if we do recruit Mc Cartin how many games will he play in 2015?

[DeeSpencer 23,318]

Surely the fact that the Saints we're offered Pick 4 & 7 for Pick 1 means that Petracca is a lock for 1?

If they were after a forward at 1 then they could have opted for Wright (4) and snagged a decent mid at (7).

Saints will take Petracca at 1, we'll take Brayshaw at 2, but given Roo's comments regarding teenage talls I don't really consider McCartin a lock at 3. Roos knows how desperate we (fans) are to start playing competitively sooner rather than later. I'd like him, though he looks sluggish to me on his highlights reel, but what the hell do I know? Wouldn't be surprised if we pull someone out of the hat at 3.

Question: if we do recruit Mc Cartin how many games will he play in 2015?

Probably 0-5 if Dawes and Hogan stay healthy and McCartin has as much work on his game required as we think he does.

But no draftee should be expected to improve the side in year 1 and Roos knows that and showed it with patience with Salem last year.

Brayshaw has the body and competitiveness to play, but there's no guarantee anyone else like De Goey, Laverde, Duggan, Pickett etc would settle in to playing and making an impact in year one either.

We've got 2 later picks and 2 rookie spots if we want to find some more ready to go help.

[FarNorthernD 5,848]

Surely the fact that the Saints we're offered Pick 4 & 7 for Pick 1 means that Petracca is a lock for 1?

Saints will take Petracca at 1, we'll take Brayshaw at 2, but given Roo's comments regarding teenage talls I don't really consider McCartin a lock at 3. Roos knows how desperate we (fans) are to start playing competitively sooner rather than later. I'd like him, though he looks sluggish to me on his highlights reel, but what the hell do I know? Wouldn't be surprised if we pull someone out of the hat at 3.

Question: if we do recruit Mc Cartin how many games will he play in 2015?

McCartin reminds me a bit of Jack Darling in both looks and attitude. Both are strong, aggressive at the man and ball and have good hands. Neither seem to possess a backward step.

Obviously it is difficult to know if Paddy can step straight up into an AFL side. By the sounds of it he will need to work hard on his endurance running but Roos proved last year with JKH that he will promote first year players into the side despite preferring they serve apprenticeships at a lower level.

If Paddy can have an uninterrupted pre-season then I think he could surprise and play half a dozen or so games.

By the way, Darling played 23 in his first season

[Machsy 2,858]

Darling was an 800m runner who was capable of playing as a big midfielder as a junior; McCartin has shown no such capability, and is significantly larger and more lumbering.

[cat attack 26]

McCartin is a pure footballer. He is not an athlete but would have immediate impact.

I am over take athletes that can't play football, would much rather take a purist footballer

[Machsy 2,858]

For pick 3, you'd be silly not to get both.

[rjay 23,970]

Probably 0-5 if Dawes and Hogan stay healthy and McCartin has as much work on his game required as we think he does.

I would think more if we pick him up. McCartin is already better in the air and his leading patterns are better than Dawes. Dawes has a mature AFL body but it does seem to let him down a bit.

[Earl Hood 5,806]

Darling was an 800m runner who was capable of playing as a big midfielder as a junior; McCartin has shown no such capability, and is significantly larger and more lumbering.

If we were examining an 18 year old D Breterton I wonder what we would be saying. Undersized for a key position, not quick, can't play mid field, can't play back. Let's move on. But hold on he is a natural forward, he has heeps of mongrel and can take a contested mark and kick a goal. What do we do now?

Is there some way of testing for that mental capacity to compete that the likes of Brereton, Hodge, Selwood and others have/had to get to every contest? If there is I wish we knew it because if you get one or two of those characters on your list and you are off and running.

[ThreeOneSix 953]

Darling was an 800m runner who was capable of playing as a big midfielder as a junior; McCartin has shown no such capability, and is significantly larger and more lumbering.

McCartin is more of a footballer than Darling. Jack Darling is an athlete - and a VERY good one.

But judging solely from a football perspective, McCartin has superior hands to Darling and much better football smarts.

Darling is just big and quick, but he lacks brains and is a bit rigid under the ball - we won't have that problem with McCartin.

[nutbean 8,837]

McCartin is a pure footballer. He is not an athlete but would have immediate impact.

I am over take athletes that can't play football, would much rather take a purist footballer

I believe that we will take McCartin but immediate impact ?

Please name the last key position footballer taken in the draft that had an immediate impact

(if you can name one then I will name you the other 98% that took until 21-22 of age at least before they had the immediate impact you speak of)

[rjay 23,970]

I believe that we will take McCartin but immediate impact ?

Please name the last key position footballer taken in the draft that had an immediate impact

(if you can name one then I will name you the other 98% that took until 21-22 of age at least before they had the immediate impact you speak of)

Of course you can but the really good ones make an impact early in their careers. Brown, Brereton, Lockett for example made an impact early.

The good thing about Hogan and McCartin is they are hard at it competitors (mongrels), a thing they share in common with the above players. I reckon it's these types that make it early.

Jeremy Cameron is another that made an early impact but I wouldn't put him in the mongrel category although he is no shrinking violet when it comes to standing his ground.

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,945]

I believe that we will take McCartin but immediate impact ?

Please name the last key position footballer taken in the draft that had an immediate impact

(if you can name one then I will name you the other 98% that took until 21-22 of age at least before they had the immediate impact you speak of)

Johnathon Brown.

[Slartibartfast 15,922]

I believe that we will take McCartin but immediate impact ?

What ever impact he makes in his first year it won't live up to Demonland expectations.

[Nasher 33,133]

Please remind me how many games Jeremy played as a forward this year?

The first few at least and was moved forward a few times to no effect.

[FarNorthernD 5,848]

If we were examining an 18 year old D Breterton I wonder what we would be saying. Undersized for a key position, not quick, can't play mid field, can't play back. Let's move on. But hold on he is a natural forward, he has heeps of mongrel and can take a contested mark and kick a goal. What do we do now?

Is there some way of testing for that mental capacity to compete that the likes of Brereton, Hodge, Selwood and others have/had to get to every contest? If there is I wish we knew it because if you get one or two of those characters on your list and you are off and running.

Intriguing "what if" Earl.

Brereton was the CHF of his generation. He played in 5 premierships, was a 9 time State of Origin player and was All Australian. He was a great mark and loved kicking pressure goals. He relished contact and performing on the biggest stage.

How would he go today? At 186cm he is the same height as Dom Tyson. Petracca and Brayshaw. So where would Dermott play today? No doubt he would reinvent himself but it is difficult to see him being the dominant player he was just 25 years ago

[P-man 13,239]

I believe that we will take McCartin but immediate impact ?

Please name the last key position footballer taken in the draft that had an immediate impact

(if you can name one then I will name you the other 98% that took until 21-22 of age at least before they had the immediate impact you speak of)

I agree to a certain point.

He will be joining one of the lowest scoring teams in the game's history. Dawes lead the tally last season with 20. Jeremy Cameron in his debut season kicked 29.

The bar isn't being set all that high for Hogan and/or McCartin to have an immediate impact.

Edited November 24, 2014 by P-man

[Deecisive 1,658]

regardless of who the saints pick they will regret not taking the other player. How many no 1 picks have actually proved to be the best of their draft.

[beelzebub 22,269]

I believe that we will take McCartin but immediate impact ?

If we get McCartin he wont make an immediate impact for a very simple reason.He wont be allowed to. Roos won't let him out there till hes put at least half a dozen magoo efforts under his belt and put his hand up.

[BrisbaneDemon 1,501]

If we get McCartin he wont make an immediate impact for a very simple reason.He wont be allowed to. Roos won't let him out there till hes put at least half a dozen magoo efforts under his belt and put his hand up.

It's refreshing isn't it!

[John Dee 438]

sauce?

I am quite partial to tobasco.