Part of me still doesn't believe it. I'm waiting for the "it wasn't actually as bad as we initially thought" report.

I realise this won't happen, I'm just devastated and really feel for Petracca. I haven't seen two new recruits look so happy at being drafted than himself and Brayshaw.

  On 18/02/2015 at 06:51, KingDingAling said:

He went at pick 1 Einstein.

That was in 1921 for my work on photoelectrics.

The draft wasn't even around then. We had zones.

  On 18/02/2015 at 06:51, KingDingAling said:

He went at pick 1 Einstein.

I honestly didn't think anyone was going to take the bait lmao

  On 17/02/2015 at 10:29, Supreme_Demon said:

Ironically, I now lay here in my bed after having knee surgery yesterday.

I feel sorry for Christian but I know he has the determination and desire to totally recover.

I ruptured my ACL in my right knee playing AFL Super League in the middle of last year. After being on the public waiting list I finally had my operation yesterday. My knee is very swollen and sore. I cannot drive my car for 2 weeks and have no idea when I will be back at work again. I am also currently on 3 types of painkillers until I can get some sleep and the swelling goes down.

Christian has the support of his strongly close knit Italian family, his friends and an entire AFL Club. Not only that, but he has his operation booked in for next Tuesday. He will also be having one of the finest surgeons in Australia operate on his knee. As much as it is a blow for him individually I'm sure he will recover. Just as I will eventually. He is fortune enough to be an AFL player though, whereas I am not even close! Plus I am alot older at 34 years of age. Nevertheless, this bit of bad luck will be a mere tiny obstacle in Christian's AFL career at the Demons. In the long run the bigger picture which Paul Roos and Simon Goodwin are trying to paint must be remembered. One individual player will not change this entire club. It is all about team culture and team leadership. I am disappointed about what has happened to Christian. I am sure he is very frustrated at the moment. However, I'm certain he will overcome this hiccup in his career and life though. We as Demons supporters will just have to wait until 2015 to see Christian play though. A real Demon never gives in!

I wish him all the best with his surgery and his rehab. I may even come along to Demons training myself and support him while he is doing rehab too. I won't be doing much for a few weeks anyways. I can always catch the train and hobble over to watch Demons training at Gosch's Paddock while on my crutches perhaps?

Overall, the only way to get out of this mentality of self-pity is by being determined and having single-mindedness to succeed. Under Paul Roos I am more confident of a fundamental culture change than I have ever before. Christian will be part of a successful Demons Premiership side in the future. We just need to be patient and stay the course.

Go Demons in 2015 and beyond!☺

I wish you a speedy recovery and good health always

( as an aside - did you do your knee injury before or after we put you on our rookie list ?)

Thanks mate! Maybe if I was 21 and not 34 I would make the rookie list! I look like Mick Martyn formerly of North Melbourne according to my little brothers and I was apparently "too rough" in my first game according to the umpires. Once I go through rehab I look forward to getting back to running and playing footy again next season.

The one silver lining from last year was that I was co-winner of the President's award for the best clubman at my football team in 2014.

Either way, I look forward to having a chat with Christian Petracca and wishing him all the best with his recovery from his ACL injury.

  On 19/02/2015 at 08:39, Supreme_Demon said:

Thanks mate! Maybe if I was 21 and not 34 I would make the rookie list! I look like Mick Martyn formerly of North Melbourne according to my little brothers and I was apparently "too rough" in my first game according to the umpires. Once I go through rehab I look forward to getting back to running and playing footy again next season.

The one silver lining from last year was that I was co-winner of the President's award for the best clubman at my football team in 2014.

Either way, I look forward to having a chat with Christian Petracca and wishing him all the best with his recovery from his ACL injury.

Play as long as you can mate, as they say you're a long time retired and you can't beat having a kick of the footy with your mates. It's one thing I do miss.

Might wanna change the thread title to: 'Christian Petracca Comeback Thread', because our boy is in good spirits and ON THE MEND!!:

  On 24/02/2015 at 08:04, The Song Formerly Known As said:

Might wanna change the thread title to: 'Christian Petracca Comeback Thread', because our boy is in good spirits and ON THE MEND!!:

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Second that Song.

I was disappointed to find out the news but that's nothing compared to what the kid in question would've gone through.

I don't think a lot of focus should be put on bottom-aged draftees, if they deliver in year one then that's awesome but it's really not something that should ever be expected of them.

That sort of judgement should be reserved for the FA's and the players traded in at an age/experience where an immediate impact is to be expected.

Love his enthusiasm and positivity. These are the type of guys you want around your footy club.

Can't wait to see him fit and firing next year.

Hey guys, bumped into a melbourne official the other day who gave me some information regarding Petracca. He told me the club was actually disappointed with his skin folds and fitness level and were expecting no more than 6 games out of him for the season. Whilst I'm still devastated that he is injured it seems that his impact this season was going to be rather minimal. Hoping he can bounce back strongly for 2016!

  On 26/02/2015 at 00:04, Harry Plopper said:

Hey guys, bumped into a melbourne official the other day who gave me some information regarding Petracca. He told me the club was actually disappointed with his skin folds and fitness level and were expecting no more than 6 games out of him for the season. Whilst I'm still devastated that he is injured it seems that his impact this season was going to be rather minimal. Hoping he can bounce back strongly for 2016!

Was this right after he started at the club? his improvement in both of those area's from what i have seen has been huge, he looked to me to have seriously trimmed down and picked up his running alot over the pre season.

  On 26/02/2015 at 00:48, Sir Paul Roos said:

Was this right after he started at the club? his improvement in both of those area's from what i have seen has been huge, he looked to me to have seriously trimmed down and picked up his running alot over the pre season.

Actually it was only last week after the knee injury. I also agree he seems to definitely have improved his running but apparently it was still not up 4 full quarters of afl footy. The official seemed adamant that if he managed to play 6 games this year he would have done extremely well.

On the other hand I may have only been told this so that it softened the blow... Just passing on my news.

  On 26/02/2015 at 00:04, Harry Plopper said:

Hey guys, bumped into a melbourne official the other day who gave me some information regarding Petracca. He told me the club was actually disappointed with his skin folds and fitness level

I don't like the idea of club officials passing on this kind of information to people outside the FD or the club, even if it is to supporters.

Can't see any benefit to it, but plenty of potential downside.

  On 26/02/2015 at 04:59, Grapeviney said:

I don't like the idea of club officials passing on this kind of information to people outside the FD or the club, even if it is to supporters.

Can't see any benefit to it, but plenty of potential downside.

What's the downside? He was just having a friendly chat...

  On 26/02/2015 at 05:15, watchtheeyes said:

What's the downside? He was just having a friendly chat...

Unless you want to broadcast it to the entire football community- and I can't see why you would unless you're trying to put a rocket up a player like Ross Lyon is doing with Col - then it's best to say nothing and work on the issue in-house.

This isn't a criticism of HP for posting it, but once it's on the interwebs, you might as well put it in the newspaper.

  On 26/02/2015 at 00:04, Harry Plopper said:

Hey guys, bumped into a melbourne official the other day who gave me some information regarding Petracca. He told me the club was actually disappointed with his skin folds and fitness level and were expecting no more than 6 games out of him for the season. Whilst I'm still devastated that he is injured it seems that his impact this season was going to be rather minimal. Hoping he can bounce back strongly for 2016!

Either it's a very insignificant melbourne official with a big mouth or the story is bs.

Now a week later, Mackenzie from the Eagles also suffers an ACL.

Also appears the signs with Libba from the Bulldogs (their B&F from 2014) are quite grim after a knee injury in today's praccy match against Tigers.

Really horrible few weeks for this injury but surely the "woe is us" mentality of Demons supporters should be in perspective today.

Still shattered for Petracca, but it's horrible for Bulldog supporters seeing Libba go down. The guy is a gun.

Wouldn't want to imagine Tyson or Jones going down.

libba's one was nasty. his studs got caught and the way the knee bent was really ugly.

terrible luck.

Bloody awful injury and terribly unfair on young kids. Feel for all 3 players.

On a positive note, returning Lion Daniel Rich shined in today's match against the Saints after doing his ACL 11 months ago. Just shows that determination and patience reaps its rewards.

  On 28/02/2015 at 08:16, Lamashtu said:

Bloody awful injury and terribly unfair on young kids. Feel for all 3 players.

On a positive note, returning Lion Daniel Rich shined in today's match against the Saints after doing his ACL 11 months ago. Just shows that determination and patience reaps its rewards.

Yep. Do the rehab, get it right, be patient.

Better, stronger, faster..... like Steve Austin.

Gee I hope Libba hasn't done an ACL, that would be a massive blow to the Bullies - and the kid himself.

Apparently his old man did an ACL in his playing days - and returned 16 weeks later!!

It appears to be an individual thing, some bounce back from an ACL like nothing happened, others never bounce back at all.

Let's just hope Petracca is one of those guys who bounces back without missing a beat.

We've seen players in the NFL return from these injuries in a relatively short time frame - with no on going problems.

  On 28/02/2015 at 19:45, KingDingAling said:

Gee I hope Libba hasn't done an ACL, that would be a massive blow to the Bullies - and the kid himself.

Apparently his old man did an ACL in his playing days - and returned 16 weeks later!!

It appears to be an individual thing, some bounce back from an ACL like nothing happened, others never bounce back at all.

Let's just hope Petracca is one of those guys who bounces back without missing a beat.

We've seen players in the NFL return from these injuries in a relatively short time frame - with no on going problems.

He didn't come back after 16 weeks.

  On 28/02/2015 at 21:21, Webber said:

He didn't come back after 16 weeks.

Ok sorry, I read that on big footy, that will serve me right.