SPC posted in the post-match thread that he liked seeing the level of intensity CP5 brought to last rounds match. I agree 1 bajillion percent (i know thats not a thing)

I will go one step further, like i have in the past already, and restate that i think he needs to pay "Angry" The day Christian FINALLY plays that way he will become the champ many supporters thought he could be.

I dont mean angry like that headcase Robbie Muir, i mean angry like Mitch Robinson, or our own Jack Viney. I am not comparing skills here, just the desire and physicality levels.

The day CP hits the field with the intention of not just impacting contests (given his physical attributes), but actually smashing bodies, we will be a very different onfield team.

He is the one player in our team who has the tools at his disposal but has not used them (yet).

Thoughts?

 

 

Really what you are saying SPC has great merit.

Its all about intensity and physical aggression to make himself the best footballer mentally as well.

Once all these skills kick in he will as you say go to another level.

Really impressive game last Sat and he didn't make the errors of pre bye rounds.Looked confident mature and kicked that goal fully in control of his task.

Along with the re set of the team, very necessary tweaks to our game plan the team  looked more assured and performed at times accordingly.

Any one who says that the Final 9 rounds do not matter and that the season is over does not know anything about competitive sport.

2019 will not be a wasted year if we can salvage say an 11/11 result and get more games into Baker Lockhart Petty Hore Dunkley Lever May Preuss Maynard Weideman And Tim Smith. Sparrow won't get time due to injury disappointingly.

One last observation Take a look at Frosty's last quarter especially Remind you of any one ? You bet Jeremy McGovern! Before you laugh look at his mark and play on through the centre which resulted in Tommy Macs last goal and line it up in style with the Eagles match winning style in the GF. Not that much difference eh?

Well the recruitment of Stephen May and fitness of Jake Lever will enable a freed  up Frost to play that gunshot style which will break lines and get our forwards moving with daring moves.

Ill be very surprised if our defence (which since the Richmond  game has been pretty frugal but still brittle won't be a significant factor in our long term revival over 2019 and beyond.

Watch this space!!!

 

Petracca’s size is never going to be used that way, he is too much a basketballer where it’s evasion not collision. If he was the build of Pendlebury we wouldn’t be saying this, but he isn’t but he has the same physical aggression as Pendles, will go the ball but crashing people ain’t his go. 

2 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Petracca’s size is never going to be used that way, he is too much a basketballer where it’s evasion not collision. If he was the build of Pendlebury we wouldn’t be saying this, but he isn’t but he has the same physical aggression as Pendles, will go the ball but crashing people ain’t his go. 

Did a pretty good job of it last game...

3 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Petracca’s size is never going to be used that way, he is too much a basketballer where it’s evasion not collision. If he was the build of Pendlebury we wouldn’t be saying this, but he isn’t but he has the same physical aggression as Pendles, will go the ball but crashing people ain’t his go. 

Spot on, it's the same as Pendles, they have a skill set the allows them to predict the next movement better than a real bang and crasher such as Viney or Jones, so it's not like he can't take contact it's that he's trying to think about what happens once he got the ball rather than just getting the ball. One thing long term he needs to get better at is learning to consistently use his body strength to help create those next opportunities, but that'll come. I see him as being more Robbie Gray than Dusty Martin which a lot want because of his size. 

5 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Petracca’s size is never going to be used that way, he is too much a basketballer where it’s evasion not collision. If he was the build of Pendlebury we wouldn’t be saying this, but he isn’t but he has the same physical aggression as Pendles, will go the ball but crashing people ain’t his go. 

That might be the case but this is footy not basketball. A bloke with his hips and shoulders has all the tools to knock other blokes into next week using the correct technique. I agree with the OP that he needs to add this dimension to his game. It would seriously help the team and help him become the player we need him to be.

Christian Petracca needs to find his inner Robert DiPierdomenico.

Edited June 27, 20196 yr by Matsuo Basho

His last month has added a lot of composure with the ball in to his footy.

Smart with the ball
Run hard to space
Smart and run in the defensive game

That's all I want to see from Petracca. I don't care if he goes over or around opponents when it's ball winning time, the guy has no issue with getting down and winning the footy.

MFC Fans: We need more outside skillful players.

Also MFC Fans: Let's turn everyone into bash n crash agro inside mids.

 

There have been times, particularly late in games when the game has been on the line, where Trac has been seen to burst through packs with brute strength and force the ball forward.  When he's in full flight like that, he's awesome to behold.  So, there's no doubt he CAN do it.  I guess we just want to see MORE of it, throughout games.

1 minute ago, Vagg said:

There have been times, particularly late in games when the game has been on the line, where Trac has been seen to burst through packs with brute strength and force the ball forward.  When he's in full flight like that, he's awesome to behold.  So, there's no doubt he CAN do it.  I guess we just want to see MORE of it, throughout games.

He could well be the game-wide money man.

He seems to be playing more between the 50 metres arc and centre, and looks more comfortable and effective for it.

1 hour ago, Lord Nev said:

MFC Fans: We need more outside skillful players.

Also MFC Fans: Let's turn everyone into bash n crash agro inside mids.

 

One player mentioned from our list of 47 players. One. A player who needs to add more physicality to his game, and who no doubt has the tools.

To somehow twist that into a plea to turn all 47 into inside mids is peak Demonland.

I agree with the sentiment of the OP, and I think we've also seen those surges in matches where Petracca seems to just want to be involved in everything and want to make things happen. Not necessarily bash and crash, but real creative dare, willingness to be the one that takes responsibility.

And then, when his heart rate steadies and he has time to think too much, even the goal posts intimidate him!

50 minutes ago, ding said:

One player mentioned from our list of 47 players. One. A player who needs to add more physicality to his game, and who no doubt has the tools.

To somehow twist that into a plea to turn all 47 into inside mids is peak Demonland.

"Peak Demonland" seems to be more about lamenting our skill while simultaneously wanting everyone to be Jack Viney.

We need skillful players on the outside, Petracca can be that, and he can also be fantastic at winning the ball at ground level. No need to turn him into yet another "bash n crash" type. We have more than enough of those.

 

5 hours ago, rjay said:

Did a pretty good job of it last game...

Yeah he will when required but in a 50/50 option he will try and grab and evade where as Viney would grab and barrel through. 

2 hours ago, Matsuo Basho said:

That might be the case but this is footy not basketball. A bloke with his hips and shoulders has all the tools to knock other blokes into next week using the correct technique. I agree with the OP that he needs to add this dimension to his game. It would seriously help the team and help him become the player we need him to be.

Christian Petracca needs to find his inner Robert DiPierdomenico.

If he did he would probably get suspended often for executing it poorly.

1 minute ago, Gorgoroth said:

Yeah he will when required but in a 50/50 option he will try and grab and evade where as Viney would grab and barrel through. 

If he did he would probably get suspended often for executing it poorly.

Yep, the silly thing is Viney gets caught a lot trying it.

I thought last week he (Viney) started using his footy brain a lot better.

Picked the right times to barrel or give off.

Trac at full pace is hard to nail in a tackle.

I think he's starting to get the balance right...when to give off or take the shot, when to barge through or go around...all those things.

He's played well the last few weeks and will get better.

One area for me is I would like to see him using his bulk and vertical leap to take a few more contested grabs.

That's when he's going to get really dangerous...

2 hours ago, ding said:

One player mentioned from our list of 47 players. One. A player who needs to add more physicality to his game, and who no doubt has the tools.

To somehow twist that into a plea to turn all 47 into inside mids is peak Demonland.

Don’t take it to heart @ding. @Lord Nev does this to me and others, too.

5 hours ago, rjay said:

Yep, the silly thing is Viney gets caught a lot trying it.

I thought last week he (Viney) started using his footy brain a lot better.

Picked the right times to barrel or give off.

Trac at full pace is hard to nail in a tackle.

I think he's starting to get the balance right...when to give off or take the shot, when to barge through or go around...all those things.

He's played well the last few weeks and will get better.

One area for me is I would like to see him using his bulk and vertical leap to take a few more contested grabs.

That's when he's going to get really dangerous...

Agree, Viney needs to realise that he has other weapons than straight ahead and Trac should use his size to move players out of the way, doesn’t have to be aggressive, just smart and realise his size vs theirs. 

I don't want anyone to do anything in an angry manner. 

17 hours ago, ding said:

SPC posted in the post-match thread that he liked seeing the level of intensity CP5 brought to last rounds match. I agree 1 bajillion percent (i know thats not a thing)

I will go one step further, like i have in the past already, and restate that i think he needs to pay "Angry" The day Christian FINALLY plays that way he will become the champ many supporters thought he could be.

I dont mean angry like that headcase Robbie Muir, i mean angry like Mitch Robinson, or our own Jack Viney. I am not comparing skills here, just the desire and physicality levels.

The day CP hits the field with the intention of not just impacting contests (given his physical attributes), but actually smashing bodies, we will be a very different onfield team.

He is the one player in our team who has the tools at his disposal but has not used them (yet).

Thoughts?

 

 

Good post. I think Trac has been very good for the past month and will continue to look better as our team play better. I also think he will rip a few games apart in the next 10 weeks. Good times ahead. 

Despite being a whiping boy of sorts (i.e. No.2 pick should dominate every game), my take is that Trac has been one or our better performers over this season.  The main thing which has let him down is his erratic goal kicking in the 20m - 35m range.

But do I think he can and want him to go to that next level - hell yeah.  Like most of our team, I think Trac is struggling for that edge of confidence.  Once Trac and our on ball brigade get up and going again, I think that they will dominate and bully the opposition.  Trac can be every bit the power on-ball/forward option that Dusty has been for a few years now.  Don't forget, it took Dusty a few years and almost being traded to get there too.

16 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Petracca’s size is never going to be used that way, he is too much a basketballer where it’s evasion not collision. If he was the build of Pendlebury we wouldn’t be saying this, but he isn’t but he has the same physical aggression as Pendles, will go the ball but crashing people ain’t his go. 

He can and should use his size in more the mould of Kawhi Leonard, just completely dominates and is unmoved from the space he inhabits or decides he wants to go to, but in a calm and measured way. Doesn't go around aggressively seeking contact or to dunk on people in that egotistical fashion.

Petracca i think swings on the pendulum of happy/sad, confident or unconfident too wildly.  I don't think he needs to play angry, but try and play in neutral emotionally balanced way. He has the talent to beat a player on pure ability and doesn't need to hype himself up to do it. Sam Mitchell played this way too. Just performs and then moves on to the next play, and doesnt linger on missed opportunities which effect confidence and... set shot kicking.

Edited June 27, 20196 yr by John Demonic

He has so much power in his hips and CoG is nice and low despite his height and bulk, yes agree with the OP. His balance reminds me of Gavin Wanganeen, although he is not at that level yet obviously. He really can make a hole in a pack legally. Not sure who is better through the hips though between him and Viney though, am struck dumb by how planted Viney is and his ability to hold his space despite being an oompaloomper. Have watched Walter's flop about 1000 times now, but Trac's burst out of some packs was definitely part of us winning last week.

8 hours ago, John Demonic said:

He can and should use his size in more the mould of Kawhi Leonard, just completely dominates and is unmoved from the space he inhabits or decides he wants to go to, but in a calm and measured way. Doesn't go around aggressively seeking contact or to dunk on people in that egotistical fashion.

Petracca i think swings on the pendulum of happy/sad, confident or unconfident too wildly.  I don't think he needs to play angry, but try and play in neutral emotionally balanced way. He has the talent to beat a player on pure ability and doesn't need to hype himself up to do it. Sam Mitchell played this way too. Just performs and then moves on to the next play, and doesnt linger on missed opportunities which effect confidence and... set shot kicking.

If I recall correctly Sam Mitchell also had a knack of playing ugly/dirty Hawthorn unsociable football that I've not really seen from Trac.  How Mitchell and some of the other Hawthorn players of those teams got away with it still somewhat astounds me.  Melbourne players would get rubbed out multiple weeks all the time for that sort of stuff, the BS 1 week suspension of Steve May at the start of this season being case in point.