Is Christian Petracca the big-bodied beast we need?

Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro

4/1/96

185cm/92kg

Medium forward/midfielder

Petracca is the draft's point of difference. He's a big, strong and powerful forward who out muscles almost everyone in one-on-ones and is taking his talents into the midfield. Petracca has a presence when the ball's in his area: he hustles and bustles through packs, breaks tackles, pushes and shoves and wants the ball in his hands. He's most comfortable around goal, but is working on using his improved aerobic capacity in an on-ball role.

They make him sound a lot like Dangermouse. He seems to have broken clear to be the highest ranked mid in the draft, and we could certainly use someone with those attributes. Sadly GWS also seem pretty set on him, so it could be difficult.

What are the chances of the Saints surprising everyone and taking him instead of a tall forward with fist pick?

fairly solid i would expect, their midfield is just as parlous as ours.

Nah sorry lads, Petracca is as good as gone...unless we lose tommorow which would be a nightmare

Will still be surprised if the Saints take him but GWS are pretty likely to. So it's either they lose and take him or trade with the Saints for pick one and take him.

Of the top rated mids available Laverde interests me, bit of real x factor with this kid. Height, pace, can kick but does run himself into trouble at times so maybe not a great decision maker. To me he will either be a real gem or at worst someone a bit like Murdoch at Geelong.

Still rate Gore as a pure mid....

There's a lot of rumours about saints trading pick 1 for Boyd. So IMO GWS got him either way unless we win the wooden spoon

There's a lot of rumours about saints trading pick 1 for Boyd. So IMO GWS got him either way unless we win the wooden spoon

Shame.

I would not be unhappy with Peter Wright.

Throw pics and coin at TEX.

Need to get this guy. Is a monster.

I strongly believe if pick 1 isn't traded the Saints will find it difficult to pass up McCartin, so for mine, Petracca is pick 2

If we lose today i'd be very surpised if we don't draft him, if not I think picks 3 and 4 will be on the trade table

so basically we'll end up with either Petracca or Brayshaw?
I see that as a win, win really.

Not even Petracca will help us i'm afraid. In fact, i'm concerned for the kid's well-being, needs to stay well away or his football career will amount to nothing.

Run Christian, Run.

Edited August 17, 201410 yr by Demon Disciple

Not even Petracca will help us i'm afraid. In fact, i'm concerned for the kid's well-being, needs to stay well away or his football career will mount to nothing.

Run Christian, Run.

Poor kid

^^ Is this what passes for comedy now?

God help the human race...

Petracca has been dominant all year and is a genuine match winner, something we haven't had for a long time, if we draft and develop this kid well I think he will be an absolute superstar

Petracca has been dominant all year and is a genuine match winner, something we haven't had for a long time, if we draft and develop this kid well I think he will be an absolute superstar

We ll trade the pick away again like we did with the Dom Tyson for Kelly trade.

Damn Kelly looked the goods yesterday.

Keel pick 2 for Petracca... he is ready to go plus has superstar qualities

We ll trade the pick away again like we did with the Dom Tyson for Kelly trade.

Damn Kelly looked the goods yesterday.

So did Tyson, was our best player until injured and the reason why we were in the game in the first Q.

Rating a player for their performance against us yesterday is nearly as bad as rating them on NEAFL form. We were that bad.

So did Tyson, was our best player until injured and the reason why we were in the game in the first Q.

Rating a player for their performance against us yesterday is nearly as bad as rating them on NEAFL form. We were that bad.

Tyson is good and tries hard but he will never have the x factor and ability to turn the tide of a game the way Kelly will.

Salem struggles to get a touch. Has he had any games where he has reached double digit posessions?

Tyson is good and tries hard but he will never have the x factor and ability to turn the tide of a game the way Kelly will.

Salem struggles to get a touch. Has he had any games where he has reached double digit posessions?

Tyson has already turned the tide of games, I wouldn't be too worried about him. What is x factor, I would think it's someone like Jurrah, the ability to do the extraordinary. Kelly will be a very good footballer, so will Tyson, that's the least of our problems.

Salem had serious health problems in pre season that gives him some let out plus he is a first year player, but he really does need to get involved in the game a lot more, can't argue that.

Kelly carved us up yesterday, his touches were all influential and the impact he had on the game as a first yr player was huge. None of this "younger players tiring from a long year" excuse we seem to be hearing at the MFC.

Kelly carved us up yesterday, his touches were all influential and the impact he had on the game as a first yr player was huge. None of this "younger players tiring from a long year" excuse we seem to be hearing at the MFC.

Is it just me, or has Kelly played his two BEST games for the year against us? The first one he won a rising star from it..

Honestly, rating first year players against Melbourne is a complete waste of time. Why do you think that players win rising star awards against us? We are a team that possess a number one goal and that is to try to improve week by week. Which is why we let young players off the hook to gather up easy disposals and have the time to make strong decisions and provide them with that confidence early within that game which eventuates into an awesome game.

Look at Devon Smith.. he absolutely CARVED it up against us but I have never seen him play a game like that against any other side this year. For some of you on here who are comparing Tyson to Kelly and are saying 'Oh, Kelly is one to influence a game unlike Tyson' are completely delusional.

For the ONE exception in Nathan Jones over the years and years of misery supporting the Melbourne Football Club, he is the ONLY player that has taken his game to a consistent level and flourished within a very poor structured side that fails to develop players due to the difficulty it is in playing alongside team mates who struggle which the basics (handball, kicking, marking and converting). THEN you have someone in Dom Tyson who will nearly take out our best and fairest and has played consistently well within his FIRST YEAR at the club...

Tyson is good and tries hard but he will never have the x factor and ability to turn the tide of a game the way Kelly will.

And then you have a post like this.. If we didn't have Tyson playing for us in the Red & Blue I can guarantee you we would NOT have won the game against Adelaide, Richmond & Essendon.

Not even Petracca will help us i'm afraid. In fact, i'm concerned for the kid's well-being, needs to stay well away or his football career will amount to nothing.

Run Christian, Run.

ha, maybe we can nickname him 'Forest'.

I am not trying to say Tyson has been bad, what I am saying is we need a superstar who can influence games. Past few years we have kept targetting hardworking mids in Toumpas Viney Salem Tyson, Matt Jones, Magner, Couch, Cross, Vince ect

Its about time we go for a player who goes in hard both inside and out and has the x factor to influence a game rather then just keep us in the game and our head above water. We had 2 chances to get this kid but instead we took a forward who hasnt played a game of AFL in 2 years and another hardworking midfielder to keep our head above water.

Also if Viney and co rated Salem above Kelly then I have my concerns with the recruiting department..

Edited August 18, 201410 yr by olisik

Kelly carved us up yesterday, his touches were all influential and the impact he had on the game as a first yr player was huge. None of this "younger players tiring from a long year" excuse we seem to be hearing at the MFC.

...and Tyson carved them up in the clearances early in the game. He will either win or come runner up in our B&F, I don't think we made a mistake here.

Kelly really got going when the game was done and dusted.

... or maybe it was just a win-win trade?