WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Really ? the last time was Lucas Cook at pick 12..... eww

Lol yeah well you know what I mean.

And pick 12 isn't in the teens, just saying..

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,209]

great get. really adds something different to our side.

[What 18,810]

cant believe the Saints didnt take him

this is like christmas only better

[Lord Travis 10,742]

Very happy to land Petracca. Going to add grunt and X-Factor to our midfield and forward line. Great draft for us!

[Wiseblood 24,637]

The Media is certain that Paddy will go number one but my mail, reconfirmed today, is this is a smokescreen to create interest in the #1 pick. Christian will not be available to us as a "deal has been done".

So if you believe Roosy about the top 3 names then its Paddy and Angus for us.

Fascinating stuff, time will tell....

Your mail wasn't all that flash.

[Axis of Bob 11,836]

great get. really adds something different to our side.

Agreed.

He's dynamic and physically dominant, which gives a point of difference with our other midfielders.

[dazzledavey36 55,000]

Your mail wasn't all that flash.

Haha yessssss!

[ThreeOneSix 954]

Awesome. Must have a hell of a leap on him if he can dunk it so easily at 186.

Powerful and athletic bull. Perfect.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

[Ethan Tremblay 30,876]

The Media is certain that Paddy will go number one but my mail, reconfirmed today, is this is a smokescreen to create interest in the #1 pick. Christian will not be available to us as a "deal has been done".

So if you believe Roosy about the top 3 names then its Paddy and Angus for us.

Fascinating stuff, time will tell....

In Nelson from the Simpsons voice..

Haahaa

[BIG JIM 508]

Great pick love this kid

[PJ_12345 1,098]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[beelzebub 23,380]

thanks afl

[Pennant St Dee 13,241]

Went to watch the WA vs Vic Metro game earlier in the year keen to get a closer look at Brayshaw Wright and others but as per my write up it was Petracca who caught my eye. Over the moon that he fell to us. Welcome to the MFC Christian

[Biffen 12,944]

Sweet.

[H_T 3,049]

Pumped that we've landed this dynamic footballer. Adds something different to our team.

[Whispering_Jack 30,239]

Knightmare on Christian Petracca ~

Christian Petracca (VIC – Mid/Fwd)

Height:186cm, Weight: 92kg, DOB: 04/01/1996

Recruited from: Eastern Ranges

Draft range: 1-2

Best position/role: Rotational midfielder/forward.

Strengths:

Front half talent –Petracca can play both deep in the front half as a marking target and off a forward flank to a high standard when playing forward. Deep in the front half Petracca provides strong scoreboard impact and is an imposing marking presence with his 1v1 strength, overhead marking ability, marking on the lead and superior ability to read the drop of the ball. He can deep in the front half also win the ground ball. Petracca can also play off a forward flank and have a big impact, he can on a forward flank accumulate the footy in bunches, do damage with his footskills, present as a strong marking target, provide strong scoreboard impact and push up the field.

Midfield talent – Petracca is an improved midfielder this year having improved his endurance and decreased his skinfolds. He has a nice mix between inside and outside game. He is a very good contested ball winner and stoppage player and these areas of his game can continue to improve given his size and strength. He is a strong ground ball winner. He is a strong tackler. He also has a rare power to him not only with his strength to bully guys inside the contest but some real explosive power where he can burst through a contest, come up with the ball and break away from the contest at speed. He also has excellent evasiveness and can sidestep guys and burst away with some real explosiveness. Some of his work inside by hand finding targets also is impressive. Outside the contest Petracca shows that he can find the footy but also use it really well utilising his damaging footskills and vision allowing him to find damaging targets up the field.

Scoreboard impact – Forward or through the midfield Petracca provides strong scoreboard impact and is capable of kicking multiple goals and breaking games open with his scoreboard impact in any given game whether that be from set shots or in general play.

Strength and power – There are not many 92kg midfielders going around and even fewer with the explosiveness and power of Petracca. He wins his own ball and can either burst through the contest or run around you with ease. He stands up through tackles and has the strength through his core and hips, he can shrug tackles and give a strong don’t argue. In the 1v1 contests he can take advantage of anyone who is not key position sized making him a matchup nightmare.

Versatility – Petracca because he can play not only through the midfield but also on a forward flank or deep in the front half as a marking target gives you options and this versatility should also help him receive immediate senior games on any team.

Footskills – Has an excellent mix between footskills hitting his targets around the ground with consistency, vision allowing him to find some really damaging targets in great position but also he has the finishing ability and set shot goalkicking to allow him to make the most of his opportunities in front of goal. I have also enjoyed some of his kicks to target while tackled showing that even when tackled he can still execute and find his targets.

Marking ability – Few if any medium size types have the marking ability of Petracca. He has the 1v1 marking ability, contested marking ability and ability on the lead to take his marks and he has the strength overhead to take them consistently. He also reads the drop of the ball exceptionally well and uses his body well in the contest allowing him to effectively protect the drop zone making him incredibly hard to defend particularly if he can isolate a smaller player defender deep in defence.

Weaknesses:

Endurance – His endurance is building and has improved significantly this year to an extent where he can play the majority of game time through the midfield, and his endurance testing at the combine was good but if he hopes to eventually become a full time midfielder he will still need to put a further few seasons of work into building that endurance base.

Skinfolds – Like with his endurance his skinfolds have reduced but his skinfolds still appear relatively high and also need to decrease further.

Decision making ability – Petracca’s decision making ability while good most of the time can at times can leave something to be desired. Both by hand and foot Petracca with his touches generally looks to do as much meaningful damage as he can but at times as a result of this he can fail to recognise his limitations which can lead to a poor kick or handball and an overall lower disposal efficiency than he might otherwise have.

What I expect will improve:I expect Petracca to continue to improve his contested ball winning and stoppage work and take that area of his game from good to eventually excellent. I also expect his endurance and skinfolds to improve. I also imagine his disposal efficiency to increase as he improves his decision making ability and better learns when he can do damage and when he needs to go the safe option.

Who he can become?

I anticipate Petracca to develop into a player largely similar to Dustin Martin but without the personal issues. I see Petracca mostly playing as a damaging forward flanker at first who will at times push deeper into the front half splitting his minutes between playing through the front half and midfield with those midfield minutes increasing as he improves his ability up the ground.

When will he be ready to play?

Petracca is season one, round one ready to play. He I imagine will start off season one mostly playing in the front half and by season two or three likely play more a split between forward and midfield minutes.

How to best utilise him?

Petracca today is best utilised at the moment in the front half because he is just so damaging forward of centre. The hope will be that he becomes more a midfielder but I would look for him to split his minutes between the midfield and front half long term as he is a rare weapon forward of centre. Interpretation of his numbers:

Petracca well and truly has the performances on the board and is one of if not the best performed player in this draft class based on his form these past couple of seasons through the TAC Cup and U18 championships. He is finding the footy but also providing heavy scoreboard impact at both levels which such suggests he will provide both a strong immediate impact at AFL level but also that he will become one of the best to come out of this draft with those high production power midfielders who can provide heavy scoreboard impact of strong value to teams.

[Beetle 4,660]

There's just something about landing Petracca that is so un-Melbourne like and it utterly excites me.

I cant put my finger on it, but he is exactly the type of player we were never meant to have landed. Hes the type that goes to other clubs...surely...

Best draft i can remember in such a long time..if ever..as it stands.

[Schneider 220]

He seemed to be putting up a front about not being disappointed about missing pick number 1, could see he was crushed. I think that will work well for us though, will want to prove he should have been Pick 1.

[Cards13 9,117]

The goal kicking could be the best part of it. Not comparing but love the way Ablett can just sit at FF if need and snag a couple let alone on the run. Hopefully CP can snag more than a couple for the Dees.

[Pates 9,660]

Very happy to land him. He has all the talent in the world, c'mon Roosy unlock it and turn him into a star!

[Bonkers 994]

Very happy to have this young fella at the club. If he works very hard,is looked after & developed properly by the club, the sky is the limit for him. I'd say he could play a few good games on a half forward flank for us next year & hopefully push into the midfield later on if he starts to develop his aerobic fitness.

[Coup Cooper 610]

Petracca looks like a bloody man child and is not just what Toumpus would look like on steroids?

I just hope these draft picks have the same effect on our club that Buddy and Rough did.. Premierships!

[Coup Cooper 610]

There's just something about landing Petracca that is so un-Melbourne like and it utterly excites me.

I cant put my finger on it, but he is exactly the type of player we were never meant to have landed. Hes the type that goes to other clubs...surely...

Best draft i can remember in such a long time..if ever..as it stands.

Absolute beast! Already looks like a man!!

[Demon Jack 6,921]

Great interview with Christian and Angus.

http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-11-27/petracca-and-brayshaw-bolster-dees-midfield