WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - CHRISTIAN PETRACCA

[Yossarian 1,820]

Yes, because talking about football is indicative of performance during war.

Hilarious.

Anyway, happy to see how it plays out. He's a talented kid and wherever he is won't stop me supporting the Dees.

[Machsy 2,858]

I, for one, could easily be one of those accused of following group think, being fickle and of succumbing to confirmation bias, or whatever accusations want to be thrown around.

Simply, I thought Frawley one of our best and most important players, simply because I highly rate his ability and think his type is quite rare.

But I also realised pretty quickly that I grossly overrated the difficulty and cost of acquiring a suitable mature-bodied replacement.

I'm confident in Frost's ability, and he has has more years left in him than Frawley.

I think we have done very very well for ourselves.

[Craig Drinker 179]

I was punching the sky like a wild man when Petracca fell to us, but now all I see is a talented kid who will likely be playing against us in two years time.

I hate this current footy climate.

Loving the pessimism! That's something special!

[Slartibartfast 17,095]

I've been trying to imagine what sort of player Christian may turn out to be. I saw he train last year a few times and the best two comparisons I can come up with are Colin Sylvia and Jack Darling.

For those that saw him at junior level how would you characterize him and what role do you see him playing immediately and in the longer term?

[Duh 109]

Strong in the contest and an absolute bull in traffic; Brushes off/bursts through tacklers extremely easily and is very explosive off the mark. Can take a mark and just accumulates goals. Kicking's pretty solid/penetrating but like most young players can tend to just bomb the ball long

He'll start off as a HFF with short bursts on ball as his endurance isnt elite but as he ages he'll spend more time in the middle. If youre impressed with brayshaw you havent seen anything yet!

[Adam The God 30,021]

Strong in the contest and an absolute bull in traffic; Brushes off/bursts through tacklers extremely easily and is very explosive off the mark. Can take a mark and just accumulates goals. Kicking's pretty solid/penetrating but like most young players can tend to just bomb the ball long

He'll start off as a HFF with short bursts on ball as his endurance isnt elite but as he ages he'll spend more time in the middle. If youre impressed with brayshaw you havent seen anything yet!

I haven't seen him play. Would you compare him to someone like Stringer?

[monoccular 17,408]

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

I gasped when I saw this -- then saw the date and breathed again.

Need to get this guy. Is a monster.

so basically we'll end up with either Petracca or Brayshaw?

I see that as a win, win really.

SFKA -- and is it now a win win win win??

I've been trying to imagine what sort of player Christian may turn out to be. I saw he train last year a few times and the best two comparisons I can come up with are Colin Sylvia and Jack Darling.

For those that saw him at junior level how would you characterize him and what role do you see him playing immediately and in the longer term?

I sincerely hope that you mean what Col could / should have been and not what he turned out to be. I cringed once more. Saw him at training and thought of Col!!!!!! O M G !! Edited August 7, 2015 by monoccular

[FireOath 290]

Dangerfield?

[Rod Grinter Riot Squad 5,654]

Surprised it's not mentioned here, but was an article a day or two ago mentioning Christian is off to the States for an intensive 4 or 5 day rehab period with a doc who specialises in this and who helped Tex Walker

[Ted Lasso 19,189]

He's probably a quicker version of jake stringer, maybe robbie grey is a good comparison

[Its Time for Another 4,184]

I spoke to Miller about him over the pre season. He had him in the forwards group. He said he reminded him most of Dustin Martin. Very strong, strong overhead mark, good goal kicker, pack buster. He thought he might be a bit inconsistent like Martin.

The biggest knock on him is his lack of a tank. He's already been running for about a month and is already building into speed and agility running and its August. How much running will he have done before the pre season even starts. The amount of running his going to have done before the pre season even starts might end up being a blessing in disguise for an extra dose of tank building.

[Duh 109]

I haven't seen him play. Would you compare him to someone like Stringer?

Ive played school footy against petracca (not trying to talk myself up by the way) and a lot of my mates played footy and went to school with him and hes in another league to Brayshaw when assessed by anyone who played with both of them.

Jake Stringer is a good comparison for his foward line style of play and the way he barges through would be tacklers. He'll be similar to dustin martin but with better skills at the start of his career i think.

Maybe a josh kennedy with better pace and goal kicking nous would be a good comparison as well

All this depends on how he recovers from his knee injury i guess

[WhyAlwaysMe 237]

potential is nice but runs on the board are better, Williams Sisters Waugh Twins, not even family correctly picked the better players

[Return to Glory 8,411]

potential is nice but runs on the board are better, Williams Sisters Waugh Twins, not even family correctly picked the better players

Serena is also stronger than Christian.

[Young Dee 1,303]

Not really a fan of player comparisons but on another note I hope that he has made the most of his year off.

A years break could potentially be a good thing (like Hogan) - I imagine he has done a lot of footy analysis.

Might also take a bit of pressure off too with Brayshaw, Hogan etc showing form.

[What 18,810]

Dangerfield?

This is the best comparison, but I think he will be better overhead with imore potential to play as a deep forward when needed

Maybe a cross between Ricciuto/Dangerfield

Edited August 7, 2015 by hogans_heroes

[Emerald 1,744]

I was watching Petracca doing laps at training this morning.Despite his injury he is looking super fit and his kicking technique looks perfect.

[pineapple dee 2,892]

Serena is also stronger than Christian.

and she's got a bigger arzz

[BAMF 4,284]

This is the best comparison, but I think he will be better overhead with imore potential to play as a deep forward when needed

Maybe a cross between Ricciuto/Dangerfield

Where did you see him play HH?

[monoccular 17,408]

Not really a fan of player comparisons but on another note I hope that he has made the most of his year off.

A years break could potentially be a good thing (like Hogan) - I imagine he has done a lot of footy analysis.

Might also take a bit of pressure off too with Brayshaw, Hogan etc showing form.

I seem to remember hearing that he has had some formal role at the club, possibly in opposition analysis.

Whatever, he hasn't been slacking.

[Young Dee 1,303]

I seem to remember hearing that he has had some formal role at the club, possibly in opposition analysis.

Whatever, he hasn't been slacking.

I think I heard somewhere that he was helping out with recruiting (as a scout?)

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I gasped when I saw this -- then saw the date and breathed again.

SFKA -- and is it now a win win win win??

yeah, i'm pretty much right about most stuff.

[What 18,810]

Where did you see him play HH?

I havent, like everyone else I am just going by under 18 highlights and what we know about his style of play and physical attributes

[Adam The God 30,021]

I havent, like everyone else I am just going by under 18 highlights and what we know about his style of play and physical attributes

Well, no, not all of us are going on some YouTube clips. I have seen Petracca's clips online, but I wanted to know from someone who has actually watched him play, ideally multiple times.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,013]

Well, no, not all of us are going on some YouTube clips. I have seen Petracca's clips online, but I wanted to know from someone who has actually watched him play, ideally multiple times.

Ive played school footy against petracca (not trying to talk myself up by the way) and a lot of my mates played footy and went to school with him and hes in another league to Brayshaw when assessed by anyone who played with both of them.

Jake Stringer is a good comparison for his foward line style of play and the way he barges through would be tacklers. He'll be similar to dustin martin but with better skills at the start of his career i think.

Maybe a josh kennedy with better pace and goal kicking nous would be a good comparison as well

All this depends on how he recovers from his knee injury i guess

Does that help?