On 13/07/2017 at 07:52, Stretch Johnson said:

I think that may be fair enough, but as a coach I would be highlighting the grunt team first footy he played on Sunday and asking for more.

Goodwin actually did - as being very good coming into the middle last week. But still, it was subdued praise, and he included Hannan and Harmes in that mix. 

I hear that the Saints fans rate him extremely highly..................

I am anticipating a mind blowing breakout game one day soon. He has steadily built for a while now but one day soon it is all going to click at the same time and something amazing is going to happen. 

  On 13/07/2017 at 03:36, praha said:

He is very highly rated by opposition supporters. He tends to be a high impact player and he stands out when collecting and delivering the ball.

Agree with this. Also Trac doesn't need anyone pumping up his tyres.

Actually a pretty selfless player and would be high on the stats for goal assists..

 

Edit: just checked and he is equal 8th with 14 for the year. Robbie Gray is leading at 25. Oliver is also equal 8th 

  On 13/07/2017 at 03:25, Vogon Poetry said:

In the latest MFC website article Rawlings talks about McDonald, Wagner and Oliver but there is no mention of Trac and yet he's been equally impressive. 

Given the kid seems to display a healthy level of self-confidence, I wouldn't be surprised if the club is very deliberately trying to keep his ego in check and avoid pumping up his tyres unnecessarily. VP summed up his enticing mix of attributes beautifully. I love that he possesses a team-first attitude and that his team mates seem to love him. And I love his swagger. He and Clarry embody everything we've lacked over the past decade. I love him in the middle and can't wait to see him with 2 - 3 more pre-seasons under his belt.

  On 13/07/2017 at 08:36, FlashInThePan said:

I am anticipating a mind blowing breakout game one day soon. He has steadily built for a while now but one day soon it is all going to click at the same time and something amazing is going to happen. 

I was think the along the same lines.

You can just see it brewing...waiting to explode. 

He does everything so consistently clean in a split second that it doesn't stand out. Until you wonder when was the last time you saw him fumble, or miss a target, or go to ground. Then you realise he is already elite just waiting for his tank to catch up. 

 

His foot skills have improved this year outta sight. Last year he over or undercooked quite a few. Some his pinpoint delivery of late has been outstanding. 

His decision making has gone through the roof. That pass to ANB would never have happened in his first year, he would have had a shot. 

The kid is a star and has a lot of scope to improve. 

  On 13/07/2017 at 10:13, Abe said:

His decision making has gone through the roof. That pass to ANB would never have happened in his first year, he would have had a shot. 

The kid is a star and has a lot of scope to improve. 

Funny you say that @Abe - as it was happening - I was thinking the exact opposite - I thought he will definitely spot someone in the centre (even if the option wasn't quite there) - I can't recollect a time that when there is another option, he has a ping himself... it's pretty rare that he isn't selfless.. 

  On 13/07/2017 at 10:22, Danelska said:

Funny you say that @Abe - as it was happening - I was thinking the exact opposite - I thought he will definitely spot someone in the centre (even if the option wasn't quite there) - I can't recollect a time that when there is another option, he has a ping himself... it's pretty rare that he isn't selfless.. 

Yeah, I think you are on the money there. I also can't recall him doing that and I often find myself wishing that he would just have a ping.

We need him to play his best game ever this Saturday night for us to have any chance, 30+ pos 4 goals

Trac with a tank is going to be something to marvel at. 

At the moment he really blows up quickly. I sit near the bench and he is often stuffed when he comes off. But gees he is a powerful player.

One day soon he will have a game that makes everyone stand up and notice just what a gun he is. 

  On 13/07/2017 at 10:38, Watts the matter said:

Yeah, I think you are on the money there. I also can't recall him doing that and I often find myself wishing that he would just have a ping.

Yeah especially if he's passing the ball off to Kent who forgot his kicking boots at Casey!

I think Trac's best game to date was through the middle against Adelaide earlier in the season. Hopefully he can turn it on again. 

Out of left field idea alert!! - With the retirement of Luke Hodge this week, is anyone curious as to what Petracca would be like as a defender. He's got the body type and developing the presence that Hodge has amidst a pack of players who are a class below, and would probably develop into as tough a player eventually. I'm curious as to whether he could hold down a defensive 'general' role like Hodge in the future that rolls into the midfield in key moments. Especially if we did not bring in Lever and TMAC stayed forward.

Could it be that if Hodge played the forward/midfielder role, the Hawks mightn't have had as much success? Perhaps Petracca as the floating high forward flank/midfielder might  not be his eventual position in the future. I guess we'll see. He obviously is involved in so many scoring assists and is very valuable up forward but who knows. I think Salem is a great distributing defender but probably lacks the physical presence to be that Hodge-like defensive commander. I could see Salem becoming more of a wing/midfielder in the future.

 

  On 13/07/2017 at 14:14, DominatrixTyson said:

Out of left field idea alert!! - With the retirement of Luke Hodge this week, is anyone curious as to what Petracca would be like as a defender. He's got the body type and developing the presence that Hodge has amidst a pack of players who are a class below, and would probably develop into as tough a player eventually. I'm curious as to whether he could hold down a defensive 'general' role like Hodge in the future that rolls into the midfield in key moments. Especially if we did not bring in Lever and TMAC stayed forward.

Could it be that if Hodge played the forward/midfielder role, the Hawks mightn't have had as much success? Perhaps Petracca as the floating high forward flank/midfielder might  not be his eventual position in the future. I guess we'll see. He obviously is involved in so many scoring assists and is very valuable up forward but who knows. I think Salem is a great distributing defender but probably lacks the physical presence to be that Hodge-like defensive commander. I could see Salem becoming more of a wing/midfielder in the future.

 

yeah nah

  On 13/07/2017 at 14:28, mattjm said:

yeah nah

He's probably too good looking to not be kicking and celebrating goals.

  On 13/07/2017 at 04:31, Uncle Fester said:

Just seems a millimeter away from putting together the perfect game. You just know that one day soon it will all come together and the world will go wow! (and the few Saints that aren't crying yet will begin to). A young Darren Jarman IMO

A very good comparison. Like jarman he is explosive, super hard to tackle and great vision. Like jarman, and even more so actually, looks to give to teamates and makw assists. But the biggest similarity is like jarman, trac has anirger gear, the x factor and a want to be the man to win the game foe his team. 

I said in his first year that soon enough people would be saying stringer, the player he wss most often compared to, is the poor man's Petracca. And we are not far away from that.

 

  On 13/07/2017 at 14:33, binman said:

But the biggest similarity is like jarman, trac has anirger gear, the x factor and a want to be the man to win the game foe his team. 

 

He has a what gear?!

via Imgflip Meme Generator

 

At @ProDee mentioned the AFL champion data stats. I love them because they measure everything that you do on the footy field from putting on pressure, to competing in contests. 

This year, Trac is ranked 40th in the league. He is ranked the number 1 Mid-Forward player in the league above that of Wingard, Walters, Libba, Mundy, Sidebottom, Daulhaus, Edwards, Sheed. He is also on the forward line of their team of the year and really has been since round 3. He is ranked the 92nd best player in the league over the last 40 games. For those astute people out there, you will know he has only 32 to his name. So whilst everyone around him on the list has played 40 games, he hasnt (score / 40). Thus, each game he plays his ranking sky rockets.

Knowing that the first few games that you play you are finding your feet, expect that if injuries don't hit and we play at least 1 final, he will have 40 games under his belt. I'd be expecting he'd be finishing the year with his ranking inside the top 50 players in the league with an assault on the top 20 in 2018. Well done on Mike Sheehan for predicting his rise into the top 50 players in the AFL at the start of the year. 

Off topic, but the other 2 who are sky rocketing are Hunt (ranked 141 overall, 93 for the year, only 34 games) and Oliver (184 overall, 28 games), which are reasons why our rankings are now so good. 

 

Can't imagine the saints are feeling great about this now. 

Absolute Gun!

Not that long ago he was BOG on the QB. 

Pretty confident his career will mirror Ben Cousins without the drugs. GUN half forward develops into GUN mid!!!

  On 13/07/2017 at 14:14, DominatrixTyson said:

Out of left field idea alert!! - With the retirement of Luke Hodge this week, is anyone curious as to what Petracca would be like as a defender. He's got the body type and developing the presence that Hodge has amidst a pack of players who are a class below, and would probably develop into as tough a player eventually. I'm curious as to whether he could hold down a defensive 'general' role like Hodge in the future that rolls into the midfield in key moments. Especially if we did not bring in Lever and TMAC stayed forward.

Could it be that if Hodge played the forward/midfielder role, the Hawks mightn't have had as much success? Perhaps Petracca as the floating high forward flank/midfielder might  not be his eventual position in the future. I guess we'll see. He obviously is involved in so many scoring assists and is very valuable up forward but who knows. I think Salem is a great distributing defender but probably lacks the physical presence to be that Hodge-like defensive commander. I could see Salem becoming more of a wing/midfielder in the future.

 

Lots of maybes there. 

The Jarman comparison excites me more. 

  On 13/07/2017 at 06:38, dee-eee said:

Those who remember the 80's may see a comparison with  Russell "Rhino" Richards .

On second thoughts , Trac will be twice the player .

Interesting comparisons here. Once he got going, Rhino was quicker and also invoked a great primal, guttural chant from the crowd - loved it!

As others have pointed out, can see a bit of Jarman in the Trac (in terms of balance and seizing moments, early days though), but DJ was simply the best kick - left and right - I've ever seen. 

For me, Trac is unique in his ability to enter a contest at pace, keep his feet (mercilessly knocking a few players over in the process - teammates/opposition doesn't matter!), extract the ball cleanly and release it forward of the play to someone in a better position. This, together with his rapidly improving outside play, tank and disposal by foot, makes him, to put it mildly, a bloody hard match-up.