Petracca/Oliver: Greatest Midfield Duo of All-Time?

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,762]

7 hours ago, BrisbaneDemon said:

he’s been poor over the last few weeks.

I know we're looking for someone to blame and Max dropped a couple of marks but 20 disposals at 85%, 10 marks and a goal can hardly be defined as poor.

If you took Max out of the game, we would have lost by more. He consistently got to the right spots and bailed us out down the line with contested marks.

[adonski 9,157]

Remove the question mark from the title of this thread!

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,941]

No flag = no.

[BrisbaneDemon 1,501]

22 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I know we're looking for someone to blame and Max dropped a couple of marks but 20 disposals at 85%, 10 marks and a goal can hardly be defined as poor.

If you took Max out of the game, we would have lost by more. He consistently got to the right spots and bailed us out down the line with contested marks.

He is not the reason we lost, on the flip side of your comment, if Max played to his full potential we would have won the game.

unfortunately Max is our captain and 1/5 of our most important players, he get marked harder then most.

 

[Mazer Rackham 14,969]

All time? I thought Alfred Thornton and Harold Moriarty were pretty good back in 1885.

[Fanatique Demon 2,408]

Ron Barassi and Hassa Mann weren’t too shabby either.

[BDA 20,182]

9 hours ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I know we're looking for someone to blame and Max dropped a couple of marks but 20 disposals at 85%, 10 marks and a goal can hardly be defined as poor.

If you took Max out of the game, we would have lost by more. He consistently got to the right spots and bailed us out down the line with contested marks.

Maxy was in fantastic form over the first 6 weeks, Brownlow form, but the dip has been quite pronounced. And his mistakes, when he makes them, always seem to be costly and rash. A silly 50, tapping the ball down the throat of oppo player to score the easy goal, dropped marks which lead to goals. Costly free kicks

I think he has been a victim of the changed forward set-up as well. Early season he was going forward and taking marks but since he’s gone forward and got in the way, and looked a little lost actually.

He works so hard and is still getting up and down the ground. His top form will return I’m sure.

[Swooper1987 2,751]

There have been many, many better mid fielders than Petracca this season.  I think the coaches votes are a more accurate reflection of his season than the views of the Herald Sun / Fox Footy cheer squad.  As much as Gawn's form may have dipped a little, Petracca has equally declined. Oliver has been outstanding and is in the conversation right now as perhaps in the top 3 players of the season - and rightly so.  Petracca's year has not been in the same hemisphere as Oliver's.

[Kent 2,588]

Petracca doesn't play 4 quarters in  my view looks disinterested on occasions or that's the impression that i get

Oly goes 120 minutes every game He is amazing

[Travy14 1,506]

Gee Max gets its rough, he is the best ruck in the game ATM,  no 2 in hit out to advantage and has taken some back marks at important times in the game.  I also believe his work at ground level is as good as it ever has been.

We won't get that from anyone else in the AFL.

[chookrat 3,776]

On 5/25/2021 at 8:49 AM, Demonland said:

Disappointing that this was said by Kane Cornes automatically disqualifying this statement as being true. ?

 

I haven't bothered reading the article but this is a silly thing to say. Until we win multiple premierships with Oliver and Trac receiving Brownlow, AA and Norm Smith accolades this is very premature. Settle down fireman.

[FarNorthernD 5,848]

Going to Melbourne matches in the late ‘70’s early 80’s Robbie Flower would do things that other players weren’t capable of. He was on a different level, not every game, but most. Watching the Adelaide replay Oliver also has that ability to look like he is playing in a different league. He is not as polished or skilled by foot as Flower but can do stuff that merely good players would not entertain. 
Petracca reminds me of a young Tim Watson who no one could tackle

[Demons1858 1,662]

Duos need to show that they are better than the sum of their individual parts ... know instinctively where each other is ... help at the right moments ... have frequent connections ... there are some good signs but l expect more from such talented players I  this respect

Edited May 26, 2021 by Demons1858

[Lucifers Hero 37,133]

Brendan Mccartney discusses WBD and the Dees  dogs-are-better-but-so-are-the-dees-says

This is what really caught my eye.  “And Christian’s closer connection to (Clayton) Oliver has been good,” he said. “He’s dragged him along with him. There’s healthy competition between them. They’re not cutting each other out of the game, but they’re drawing inspiration from each other.”

Clearly Petracca is quite influential with teammates.   Wouldn't the young players really love him for washing the milk of Chandler's face; the impression for a young player being: ' he will look after me'.  I don't think we will lose Oliver or any players we want to keep while he is with us which is the next 8 years! 

I mentioned it a few weeks ago in another thread:  Petracca is captain material and wouldn't be surprised if he succeeds Max or is a co VC in the next year or two.  His leadership qualities are more apparent as each weak goes by. 

Back to the thread title.  Oliver and Petracca may not be the best midfield yet nor reach the heights of the Lions/Eagles midfield in their day.  But they will certainly be at the top of the tree for the rest of this decade.

[WalkingCivilWar 32,085]

2 hours ago, chookrat said:

Until we win multiple premierships with Oliver and Trac receiving Brownlow, AA and Norm Smith accolades this is very premature.

Why not throw in a pint each of their blood and the promise that they’ll each surrender their firstborn while you’re at it. ?

[Brenno 230]

Mcrae & Bont > Trac and Oliver. 

And have a cup to prove it. 

[Lord Nev 13,511]

[layzie 28,936]

6 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Was very nice to see, would have loved to see disposal eff % though. 

[Tony Tea 2,790]

Like Voss & Black, and Cousins, Judd and Kerr, you can't call it until you win a flag.

[P-man 13,224]

7AFL made an FB post posing the question, is Gawn/Petracca/Oliver the best midfield trio in the AFL?

A heap of Carlton fans responded suggesting it was bettered by Pittonet/Cripps/Walsh.

And I don’t think any of them were joking.

[leave it to deever 15,684]

On 5/27/2021 at 10:26 AM, Brenno said:

Mcrae & Bont > Trac and Oliver. 

And have a cup to prove it. 

This post aged.