I wonder if Petracca has a bit of the 'Travis Johnstone syndrome' (on-field only one hopes) of trying to do a bit more than he quite can. Johnstone of course spend his whole junior career being the best long kick anyone had seen and it definitely went to his head, and throughout his AFL career he would be mixing his beautiful kicks with kicks that were just never an option - centring the ball right in the middle of the ground to a complex mess.

Nah, Trac's not that bad, but he definitely goes past his own limit once in a while. Still, the ambition and intent is always welcome and maybe it will translate into a desperate urge to develop his skills to the point he can really deliver the magic.

  On 23/08/2018 at 23:59, jnrmac said:

Really? Then why not keep him in the bench until the last 15mins and then release him?

Petracca's kicking could be amazing but it is actually pretty poor most of the time. He gets too close to the man on the mark so often it makes me want to scream.

lol you could have said the same of Ablett Jnr in his first 3-4 years in the league, or even now. Under the radar for most of the game and then kicks into a gear. Agreed he doesn't do it enough but I feel you're just finding reasons to criticise a kid that has only just kicked over 50 games.

  On 23/08/2018 at 22:12, Dee Zephyr said:

There was a lot to like, the Harmes pass to Kent in the last few minutes for the goal was a beauty also. Wasn’t a long kick so to speak, the outstanding part was the composure and vision in such a pressure cooker moment by Harmes.

that was superb and exactly what we've been bemoaning the last few years. i.e it wasn't a blind long kick to the square with 3-4 eagles ready to spoil.

 

Eagles had us covered everywhere, massive pressure and Kent got a yard of space at centre half forward. Harmes had the composure to change direction and stab a neat pass and Kent kicked the winning goal.

No doubt Kents pace is what weve missed as well. a decent first game back.

The impressive thing about all the kicks mentioned is that they were all very cool headed decisions and in pressure situations.

Hopefully they will all learn, take heed, and carry forth 

Tracca's kicking is sometimes questionable, especially for goal, but it was his vision to spot Melksham and his ability to deliver a long, direct pass off one step that sets him apart. He makes good choices under pressure and can deliver over long distances. He also seems to be better balanced to kick from a standing start

Harmes' pass to Kent was also a gem as was Kent's pass earlier in the match at the other end. Reminiscent of some of nibbler's short passes to advantage. It is the ability to make and execute good choices that sets elite players apart from just good players. Our numbers are growing.

The real question is whether the change in game plan as a result of Jesse's absence caused them to look for alternatives. As Bay R said, long bombs on top of Jesse's head would have cost us the game like so many times this year eg. game 1 against cats where the opposition set up their slingshot and catch us out in defence.

Go dees.

 

  On 24/08/2018 at 04:32, monoccular said:

The impressive thing about all the kicks mentioned is that they were all very cool headed decisions and in pressure situations.

Hopefully they will all learn, take heed, and carry forth 

And doing this with consistency is what will see us translate those close losses into wins, a top 4 finish and a tilt at the flag.

  On 23/08/2018 at 18:34, Pates said:

Salem’s little squeeze kick after Jones managed to win that crucial contest had to be millimetre perfect and it was. That released us up the line to get it to Melksham in the square. 

Salem’s kicking this year has been elite. 

I've watched that last quarter a few times now and honestly Salem won us the game. Even better last quarter performance than Melksham IMO.

  On 23/08/2018 at 20:44, Wells 11 said:

I agree re his kicking. It’s sometimes exceptional and sometimes v average. Eg his goal kicking. Also I still see him slipping  over or fumbling at critical times....and sense a mind set in him that , in the main, isn’t quite owning the moments . At least not in ways I sense he could. I feel Like he hasn’t quite taken the next step up mentally. I also agree he’s excellent in close... but I don’t see him as explosive. He doesn’t have that much real pace imo. Not slow, but I don’t see explosive. Degoey, martin, Garlett are a few “explosive” players that come to mind. 

I agree  Wls11. He has the ability to explode and can do it when in open space.  When will he do it thru a tackle..... or out of deep within a pack?

His kicking prowess has to start to deliver whilst under pressure not when he is the only player within 'cooee'.  H needs to work way harder.

To me he is still very much some sort of work in progress.

 

I doubt he can make the bridge to a real breakout game,  real breakout form,,, Until he gets his fitness levels much higher.

I think he may be using this superhero title of  'explosive' & 'elite',  as an excuse... that he doesn't need elite fitness to star in this AFL.

I still think he is lazy in a sense, and resting on an inner perception of a brilliance.   slighted by insecurity.

 

IMO, He needs an honest reality check, to jog him into a true sense of his own game.

He can be so mush more than he is now.

 

# under-performing his potential abilities.

Edited August 24, 20186 yr by DV8

All great kicks and moments...

But Salem's. Never seen anything like it. The perfect, under-pressure and unconventional, 15m snap on the wing.

Petracca often tries to boot the cover off the ball for a low and hard 60 m pass or goal. looks great when it works but he gives it too much oomph at times.

Salem then Fritsch are the best kicks, Hogan and Hibberd = 3rd for field kicks

That said Petracca is the most likely to improve his technique, reminds me of Happy Gilmore either nails it or murders it, super frustrating.

Salem's kicking skills are on par with Travis Johnstone or Aaron Davey. Harder than TJ but not quite the mover that AD was.

  On 23/08/2018 at 20:09, SFebes said:

Petracca’s kicking elite? Not even close. His kicking really needs to improve a lot, especially his goal kicking. One cameo a game doesn’t put you in the same category as Salem, Melksham.

He seems to really telegraph his long kicking and raise the ball up making it look really obvious. 

I do think he has good foot skills but he needs to hit his targets more.

  On 24/08/2018 at 08:50, AmDamDemon said:

All great kicks and moments...

But Salem's. Never seen anything like it. The perfect, under-pressure and unconventional, 15m snap on the wing.

So much to like about that passage of play. Easily my favourite of the season. 

  On 24/08/2018 at 08:50, AmDamDemon said:

All great kicks and moments...

But Salem's. Never seen anything like it. The perfect, under-pressure and unconventional, 15m snap on the wing.

It HAD to be perfect as well because there were eagles players ready to swoop on it. 

Play of the day from the ball up to the goal. 

  On 24/08/2018 at 02:06, Little Goffy said:

I wonder if Petracca has a bit of the 'Travis Johnstone syndrome' (on-field only one hopes) of trying to do a bit more than he quite can. Johnstone of course spend his whole junior career being the best long kick anyone had seen and it definitely went to his head, and throughout his AFL career he would be mixing his beautiful kicks with kicks that were just never an option - centring the ball right in the middle of the ground to a complex mess.

Nah, Trac's not that bad, but he definitely goes past his own limit once in a while. Still, the ambition and intent is always welcome and maybe it will translate into a desperate urge to develop his skills to the point he can really deliver the magic.

I would always look at Johnstone and Dal Santo at the time. Both were technically brilliant kicks but one of the main differences was Dal’s Ability to kick to advantage and weight his kicks when needed whereas you could watch Travis all day just spear a low raking ball either beautifully to Neita or down the throat of the opposition, there never seemed to be in between. 

  On 24/08/2018 at 04:27, Bay Riffin said:

that was superb and exactly what we've been bemoaning the last few years. i.e it wasn't a blind long kick to the square with 3-4 eagles ready to spoil.

 

Eagles had us covered everywhere, massive pressure and Kent got a yard of space at centre half forward. Harmes had the composure to change direction and stab a neat pass and Kent kicked the winning goal.

No doubt Kents pace is what weve missed as well. a decent first game back.

Kent certainly has great pace, What about that run and tackle in the dying minutes resulting in a turnover with three demons hovering before Maxy sent the ball up to the goal square. It would be good if Kent  could develop his game like Harmes has. Fritze also delivered a beautiful kick to Hannan setting up the unguaded Melksham in the goal square. Fritz is a beautiful mover, very polished indeed.

Re Travis's kicking.

Travis had the rare skill of being able to place the ball to best advantage and to drag his team mates to the ball. When on song, he was unbeatable. He understood that moving the ball to best advantage was vital to success. In this day of reverence for contested possessions and tackles, exquisite ball movement is denigrated.

There were two reasons  for his bloopers. One, he was often too ambitious and adventurous and so took risks. The second was that his vision was far superior to his team mates who were often unable to anticipate his moves.

It was a failing of his coaches that they never coached the team around him so that there was some anticipation of his kicking. Other clubs would have built a game plan around hims unique skills but not us. Think back to the number of times Travis would be suspended in time and space, hold on to the ball and frantically motion to his team mates to lead.

For all the criticism of Travis on 'Land he was too good for the team. At a strong team with good coaching, he would have been a champion.

Agree with much of what you say, tiers, but some of Trav 's shortcomings were a little closer to home. Basically he didn't put in as hard as he could have.

For all his talent, of which he was chock full, he only had (from memory) 2 games of 30+ possessions. And one of those was when he was left unattended all game by CFC when they were "not tanking".

 

("Tanking" doesn't exist in the AFL. "Not tanking" is the thing that is real and can get you into strife.)

  On 24/08/2018 at 14:17, Bobby McKenzie said:

Kent certainly has great pace, What about that run and tackle in the dying minutes resulting in a turnover with three demons hovering before Maxy sent the ball up to the goal square. It would be good if Kent  could develop his game like Harmes has. Fritze also delivered a beautiful kick to Hannan setting up the unguaded Melksham in the goal square. Fritz is a beautiful mover, very polished indeed.

There's no doubt about that. He's the one to hang on to and if he can elevate himself to that level we'd have a serious weapon. That mid kind of forward that is very tough to find a match up for.

  On 24/08/2018 at 02:29, praha said:

lol you could have said the same of Ablett Jnr in his first 3-4 years in the league, or even now. Under the radar for most of the game and then kicks into a gear. Agreed he doesn't do it enough but I feel you're just finding reasons to criticise a kid that has only just kicked over 50 games.

Reasons to criticise? You are kidding. 

Getting back from the mark you learn in under 12s. Petracca continually kicks off a step and is 'forced' to kick the ball high. Pretty fundamental issue that is a cinch to fix. He has a very penetrating kick if only he would get back off the mark. His low bullets could be a devastating weapon.

  On 26/08/2018 at 03:50, jnrmac said:

Reasons to criticise? You are kidding. 

Getting back from the mark you learn in under 12s. Petracca continually kicks off a step and is 'forced' to kick the ball high. Pretty fundamental issue that is a cinch to fix. He has a very penetrating kick if only he would get back off the mark. His low bullets could be a devastating weapon.

lol you're basing a bad habit on experience...these are tough to break and the kid is built and thinks like a line breaker, not someone who moves back on the mark to fulfil your need for a crispy clean pass. Again, you're just being trivial here.

Just want to give a shout out to O Mac's kick 40 seconds into this weekend's game. I know in the past you've had to cover our eyes when he's got the ball but that one straight down the centre absolutely tore through the defences. Resulted in a goal to his brother. As good as anything Melksham or Salem could dish up.

  On 27/08/2018 at 11:25, Demon13 said:

Just want to give a shout out to O Mac's kick 40 seconds into this weekend's game. I know in the past you've had to cover our eyes when he's got the ball but that one straight down the centre absolutely tore through the defences. Resulted in a goal to his brother. As good as anything Melksham or Salem could dish up.

Agreed. Perfectly weighted. He then went and replicated it early in the third quarter with his pass to Gawn which set up our first goal of the second half. Two kicks of note !

  On 27/08/2018 at 11:25, Demon13 said:

Just want to give a shout out to O Mac's kick 40 seconds into this weekend's game. I know in the past you've had to cover our eyes when he's got the ball but that one straight down the centre absolutely tore through the defences. Resulted in a goal to his brother. As good as anything Melksham or Salem could dish up.

I’m glad someone is pointing these things out. The numbskull behind me still berates Oscar for his kicking at games.