Maybe I'm too conservative with him but i wouldnt play him till round 8 against the doggies or even 9 against brissy. His stats were fantastic again but looked pretty far off it fitness wise on the weekend. And besides we are struggling to find people to drop this week with 2 best 22 players coming in. Not like we need to rush him in to repace poor players.

Edited April 18, 20169 yr by ArtificialWisdom

7 minutes ago, Demon Disciple said:

I'd have him debut against the Aints, have him raring to go making them regret not picking him!

This might sound silly, but would the fact that it is played at Etihad (notoriously firm surface) impact on this I wonder?

1 hour ago, FireOath said:

Had to laugh in Roosy's presser saying that Petracca told him he was playing this week. Haha.

It was Gartlett not Petracca,,

One more week for Trac maybe

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/christian-petracca-one-more-week-away-from-afl-debut/news-story/4228c9d1c281684301c6c7589076abce

Very fitting to see him debut against the Saints, if it eventuates. The man they passed on for McCartin; great story.

Yes unleash versus the Saints... watch out, this kid is a star

9 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

One more week for Trac maybe

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/christian-petracca-one-more-week-away-from-afl-debut/news-story/4228c9d1c281684301c6c7589076abce

Paywall..

Does Trengove get a run before Petracca?

18 hours ago, Craig Drinker said:

Does Trengove get a run before Petracca?

I doubt it. Could be wrong though. I thought Petracca had a better prep, and Trenners would take a bit longer. Trengove needs time to just get himself right, get back into the game, the feel of it, the routine. Whereas all the talk around Petracca is that he is ready now. There hasn't been the level of talk that suggests Trengove is as ready atm (as Petracca). But I am only just going off what I hear on here.

Regardless of when CP5 makes his debut, I am loading up with Sportsbet on that match for Hogan to be the leading goal kicker....

The swagger they'll have is going to be amazing to watch... I can't wait!

Edited April 18, 20169 yr by KrazyJay

Aside from the established layers coming back into the side (i.e. Vince and Garlett), many of the new players coming in have come in to play a role in the new game-style's structure I.e. Hunt and Wagner.

So with Petracca, who appears to be a high forward/ mid he would appear to be competing for a place with Brayshaw, Oliver, Pedo, Kent, Kennedy. So, unless one of those players has a dog day or injury, Petracca's going to have to put in some serious form in the VFL to force one of them out. I don't think his performance against Collingwood reserves was sufficient. Reckon GT over 80% plus 3 goals and being in our best is required... possibly for a couple of weeks depending on how those others are going.

Edited April 19, 20169 yr by PaulRB

34 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

Aside from the established layers coming back into the side (i.e. Vince and Garlett), many of the new players coming in have come in to play a role in the new game-style's structure I.e. Hunt and Wagner.

So with Petracca, who appears to be a high forward/ mid he would appear to be competing for a place with Brayshaw, Oliver, Pedo, Kent, Kennedy. So, unless one of those players has a dog day or injury, Petracca's going to have to put in some serious form in the VFL to force one of them out. I don't think his performance against Collingwood reserves was sufficient. Reckon GT over 80% plus 3 goals and being in our best is required... possibly for a couple of weeks depending on how those others are going.

How good is it that we are forcing someone with the potential of Petracca, to earn his spot, rather than just gifting him his debut.

3 minutes ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

How good is it that we are forcing someone with the potential of Petracca, to earn his spot, rather than just gifting him his debut.

Very good. 

19 minutes ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

How good is it that we are forcing someone with the potential of Petracca, to earn his spot, rather than just gifting him his debut.

I don't think they are forcing Petracca to earn his spot  - simply, he has not been fit enough for the rigors of AFL football. 

But I agree with sentiment and suggest that the seniors are making those in the VFL work harder to get a game - Neal Bullen has been tearing it up the last two weeks but can't get a look in. Having players playing well in the seniors means the likes of Garland, Grimes, ANB, White and Michie have got to keep producing to get a gig and all the guys in the seniors have got to keep producing because we have players in the VFL whose form means they will be looked at.

The big shift - we have gone from who do we promote to who do we drop...

Edited April 19, 20169 yr by nutbean

1 minute ago, nutbean said:

I don't think they are forcing Petracca to earn his spot  - simply, he has not been fit enough for the rigors of AFL football. 

But I agree with sentiment and suggest that the seniors are making those in the VFL work harder to get a game - Neal Bullen has been tearing it up the last two weeks but can't get a look in. Having players playing well in the seniors means the likes of Garland, Grimes, ANB, White and Michie have got to keep producing to get a gig and all the guys in the seniors have got to keep producing because we have players in the VFL whose form means they will be looked at.

The big shift - we have gone from who do we promote to who do we drop...

Agreed. Still think that have held him back a bit longer as a bit of a disciplinary reaction to the broken toe incident. Making him realise how important good preparation is, looking after yourself off season. With the additional benefit of building his tank and his hunger to play.

To quell the nerves about tonight's MUST WIN game, I started thinking about the Lamborghini Huracan that we've still got in the garage that is yet to be unleashed. Yep, Christian Petracca - possibly the most exciting talent on our list.

In my view, the club has always had next week's game pencilled as Petracca's debut.

It's 6 weeks in - enough time to get his fitness level and match conditioning to the right level. It's also a game against the club that should absolutely have picked him with their first draft pick yet, for needs-based reasons, they went for some other dude. We got lucky. Thanks Saints. Nice narrative for his debut.

I reckon the club put him into the selection mix this week against Richmond to get him pumped up, knowing full well that Jeffy would play. They did it, not for media reasons, but to get Petracca even more pumped up - he's ready, and everyone knows it, but one week more and he'll be beyond ready. 

Hence, I suspect they'll unleash the Panther next week against the Saints. Hope they put him on McCartin at the opening bounce.

And I hope it'll be on the back of a massive win tonight.

Footy's back for this club and its supporters. Finally. It feels good.

 

This Satruday coming

Nothing has changed, it will still be vs the 'aints.

Unleash the Lambo

Sure to happen at some stage this year.

Vrrrrrrrrrrrrm Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm

I hope we smack the Tigers tonight to the point that we have to be unchanged next week. I will get excited about his debut when a spot opens up and his form and fitness warrant and he is named. Then I will go bezerk.  Until then unlike any other year I am focussing on the side on the park not those in the wings. 

Will also be dependent on how the team plays, if someone doesn't pull their weight I'm sure it will be Petracca who's first man to come in. 

this management of him has been the total opposite to others in the past. Toumpas being the best example. 

9 minutes ago, Pates said:

Will also be dependent on how the team plays, if someone doesn't pull their weight I'm sure it will be Petracca who's first man to come in. 

this management of him has been the total opposite to others in the past. Toumpas being the best example. 

On the other hand, I felt that we lost a long term champion midfielder in Scott Thompson who was never really given a proper go by Neale Daniher. Thompson spent far too much time at Sandringham when players of lesser ability were played at Melbourne.

In ten years, neither he nor we will give a rats when he debuted. Just pick him when he's ready.

Edited April 24, 20169 yr by Chook