9 hours ago, Robot Devil said:

My guess : Round 5 - Anzac Day Eve vs Tigers as we'll be at home and live on prime time TV on a Sunday night with a decent crowd.

I feel it would be unlikely they would debut him any earlier and after the Tigers we are at Etihad and Metricon until we are back to play the Bulldogs at the G in May.

 

None of these factors will be considerations. He'll play when he's fit and earned his spot. The club doesn't debut high draft picks for publicity purposes any more. 

Fitness base is his biggest hurdle, he's yet to play a full game. If we had the sub rule still in I would consider him as the sub, but we don't so he needs at least one full at Casey before he is up for selection. That's just my opinion. 

I'd be thrilled as anyone to see Petracca debut next week, but my more logical self, the bit of me that remains half buried during the football season has come to the surface and said No.

No, because the club needs to ensure the kid has some real competition experience behind him at VFL level to at least give him a taste of football beyond junior level. No matter how good Petracca is, the step up from junior level to AFL level without the benefit of ( after more than a year on the sidelines) at least a run in the pre season comp. is a step too far.

Maybe a debut in round 4 if he manages to get through a couple of games with Casey. By then maybe Brayshaw will have player a game or two and we will know more about Jack Trengove's progress.

Ah, exciting times!

As excited as we all are, it would be nothing short of dumb to play a guy in the seniors for his first game in 18 months (or however long it's been).  You wouldn't do it with a seasoned player (anyone scurrying to bring H back in to the side?), so doing it with a 20 year old only adds to the dumbness.  

Needs Casey time, and will get it.

I think the club will want him to have at least two full games for Casey, before they select him. He has to be able to run out a game before he is selected. Despite his great talent there are others ahead of him in the fitness stakes, like a Matt Jones, who did well on Saturday. 

I would very much entertain the idea of playing him early against the bombers only because it should be a soft opening - clubs have done it against us for the last decade bringing blokes in early as the saw us as a slightly more competitive VFL side. That's how it looks with Essendon right now.

If his fitness test numbers -  are on par with the better midfielders and he just is a senior player - I don't necessarily see the point in him playing in the Magoo's.

Back the kid

 

I am also happy to back Petracca playing next weekend against the Bombers. He has moved freely over recent weeks and has participated freely at training, starring in the match simulation drills. In my view he is cherry ripe to go buy should this not prove to be the case, if we manage game time like we did in Round One (using only 80 of our permitted 90 interchange rotations) then we should be able to get him through his debut with no detriment to the team effort.

19 minutes ago, jako13 said:

I would very much entertain the idea of playing him early against the bombers only because it should be a soft opening - clubs have done it against us for the last decade bringing blokes in early as the saw us as a slightly more competitive VFL side. That's how it looks with Essendon right now.

If his fitness test numbers -  are on par with the better midfielders and he just is a senior player - I don't necessarily see the point in him playing in the Magoo's.

Back the kid

 

Spot on.
Essendon are a VFL side which we will pump, the bloke is ready and raring to go.

I say keep him locked up in his cage a little longer and continue poking him with sticks. Get him extra angry.

 

Let him earn his spot via VFL. Like everyone else.

 

5 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I say keep him locked up in his cage a little longer and continue poking him with sticks. Get him extra angry.

 

Congrats ET - you just won the internet today. I'm going to be giggling like a schoolgirl for the rest of the day!

I watched the Casey 'whatever it was' on Friday, and Petracca is indeed exciting, a ballistic player with all the skills. Couple of things though which will mitigate against his immediate debut. He was frequently heaving for breath after making 2 or 3 efforts at the pill, and his touch wasn't quite there. I'm very content with letting him rev up over 2 or 3 weeks of match practice so he can debut at full steam. Brayshaw on the other hand is ready to rip, Lumumba dominated, and Sam Weideman moves, kicks and particularly marks very nicely, albeit against lesser opposition. With more size, age etc I think he's going to be a ripper. And Billy Stretch is such a natural footballer. His reading of the play and quality of use and disposal is elite IMO. As we saw last year, he just needs to get more of it, but that's just time and maturity. The kid's a gun. 

12 hours ago, AdamFarr said:

I reckon they've highlighted this game as well. Misson mentioned on his injury report before Round 1 that Petracca was about four weeks off. I'd say, all things being well, they've pencilled in a Round 4 debut. Definitely won't debut this week and if he does, that means the FD are going back on what they said, which could well spell unprofessionalism. I trust our current FD, so he won't play until at least Round 4.

I really hope so because I'll be over for round 4.

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I say keep him locked up in his cage a little longer and continue poking him with sticks. Get him extra angry.

 

You are on fire today, Ethan!

I think we are going to have trouble squeezing in Brayshaw , Lumumba and Dunn for round two, I say give him one game at Casey even though he is hands down in our best 22, it's all about preparation .

13 hours ago, The Sailing Demon said:

I am well aware that we don't need to "Rush" players into playing footy and we all know that throwing a player in the deep end under done doesn't end well.

BUT.

With yesterdays fanfare and optimism behind us we are all looking to next week.

We play a very depleted Essendon outfit that holds more VFL regulars than the Box Hill Hawks.
So my question is do we play Petracca?

Some Points...
- He won't be thrown in the deep end against an Eagles, Hawks, Swans outfit.
- This team althogh not to be taken lightly (Like any game) are midway between AFL and VFL at best.
- If we are going to throw him into a Casey game anyway, might as well put him in a game where we are odds on favourite.
- MCG debut.
- All reports from here, and other training reports suggest that not only was he excellent on Friday at the intra-club/praccy, he was well and truly a cut above the rest (Worth noting that this was in a team with Brayshaw and Lumumba)

Just an interesting conversation topic and would love your guys opinions.

I think we should throw him in and see how he takes it.

 

So why would you throw out months of planning and consistency of approach to bring in a player that is yet to play one game against a real opponent in more than 18 months?

What are you smoking?

Trac will play when he's match fit and in form.

To think we've pencilled him in for a particular game already is ridiculous.

14 hours ago, The Sailing Demon said:

I am well aware that we don't need to "Rush" players into playing footy and we all know that throwing a player in the deep end under done doesn't end well.

BUT.

With yesterdays fanfare and optimism behind us we are all looking to next week.

We play a very depleted Essendon outfit that holds more VFL regulars than the Box Hill Hawks.
So my question is do we play Petracca?

Some Points...
- He won't be thrown in the deep end against an Eagles, Hawks, Swans outfit.
- This team althogh not to be taken lightly (Like any game) are midway between AFL and VFL at best.
- If we are going to throw him into a Casey game anyway, might as well put him in a game where we are odds on favourite.
- MCG debut.
- All reports from here, and other training reports suggest that not only was he excellent on Friday at the intra-club/praccy, he was well and truly a cut above the rest (Worth noting that this was in a team with Brayshaw and Lumumba)

Just an interesting conversation topic and would love your guys opinions.

I think we should throw him in and see how he takes it.

 

as Corcoran wood say, when he's 'Cherry Ripe' !   I always thought that meant it's ripe to be eaten ?    no wonder our list was a mess from around his time.

 

let McA & Goody Roosy sort him out first.  Has he even played a VFL game.   Whats his understanding of our gamestyle like under the pump?

 

give him a month then lets talk.

2 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I say keep him locked up in his cage a little longer and continue poking him with sticks. Get him extra angry.

 

yes, keep him lean & mean.   then let the Lion out, the Romans might say.  may be we could feed him pell from a can.  Just to make him desire a feast.

Looks like we will be waiting a few more weeks.  Round 5 Richmond or round 6 Saints look the likely dates.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-season-2016-christian-petracca-dominates-in-vfl-nears-melbourne-debut-20160405-gnz3di.html#ixzz44wqiRQnb

Can't get to those game so will get in early and wish him a great start to his career with the Dees.  Both are home games at the 'G' so should be quite an amazing experience for him.  Especially the Richmond game which is Anzac Eve.

Cant wait to see him finally play a game sonetine ?

11 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Looks like we will be waiting a few more weeks.  Round 5 Richmond or round 6 Saints look the likely dates.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-season-2016-christian-petracca-dominates-in-vfl-nears-melbourne-debut-20160405-gnz3di.html#ixzz44wqiRQnb

Can't get to those game so will get in early and wish him a great start to his career with the Dees.  Both are home games at the 'G' so should be quite an amazing experience for him.  Especially the Richmond game which is Anzac Eve.

 

 

Was excited at the prospect of Tracca being unleashed vs the Saints at the G

Check the fixture and see its at Etihad, And we then them again later in the season at Etihad.

Great scheduling by the AFL, giving us two games at the Saints home ground vs the Saints... what  a joke.

1 minute ago, Petraccattack said:

Was excited at the prospect of Tracca being unleashed vs the Saints at the G

Check the fixture and see its at Etihad, And we then them again later in the season at Etihad.

Great scheduling by the AFL, giving us two games at the Saints home ground vs the Saints... what  a joke.

Oops!  My bad.  While both home games you are correct the saints game is at Ethad. 

Lets hope he doesn't debut there - the surface is so hard on the players that with Petracca's knee and foot injury history it may be best to keep him away from there early on. 

Round 5 v Richmond will be my first game for the year, would be thrilled if Trengove and Petracca both came along. Plus it seems like sensible timing.

I'm keen to see more of young players like ANB and Stretch, too. They're long term players who have shown a little already.

Could be a very different team out there by the time I get to see them!

23 minutes ago, Little Goffy said:

Round 5 v Richmond will be my first game for the year, would be thrilled if Trengove and Petracca both came along. Plus it seems like sensible timing.

I'm keen to see more of young players like ANB and Stretch, too. They're long term players who have shown a little already.

Could be a very different team out there by the time I get to see them!

Good to show Richmond what they missed out on...