2021 Player Reviews: #5 Christian Petracca

[Demonland 73,140]

It was another dominant season from Petracca who signed a new 7 year deal which should see him as a one club player for the Melbourne Football Club. He finished equal 9th in the Brownlow Medal count and his 39 possession game in the grand final assured him of a clean sweep in the voting for the Norm Smith Medal. Superb.

Date of Birth: 4 January, 1996
Height: 186cm
Weight: 97kg

Games MFC 2021: 25
Career Total: 127

Goals MFC 2021: 29
Career Total: 123

Brownlow Medal Votes 2021: 23 (equal ninth)

All Australian
Norm Smith Medal
Premiership Player

[Jibroni 5,009]

Officially a superstar of the competition, humble and now the ultimate professional.

Will be a legend by the time he is done.

Edited October 13, 2021 by Jibroni

[durango 2,023]

His Grand Final performance was sensational and if he has not hit his ceiling then we are in for great ride in the future, his chemistry with Gawn Jackson Oliver and Viney is unbelievable.

I don't care if he wins Brownlows but if he wins more Norm Smith's and Premierships then he will never feel he has missed out because team things are better the individual accolades.

[Nasher 33,617]

I haven’t had a favourite player, or a Melbourne football jumper, since I was 10.

Will be ordering a 2022 guernsey with the number of my favourite player: #5.

He played the Granny with the god mode cheat on. Absolutely dominant on the biggest stage of all.

[DistrACTION Jackson 9,224]

Had pressure on him to perform on the biggest stage, with the comparisons to Dusty.

He took it all before him, grabbed the bull by the horns and helped bring the cup home.

Will become a legend of the MFC, if he isn't already.

His maturity as a person and leader is also outstanding and I shed a tear seeing the emotion on his face and how much he loves the club.

[Bang Bang Bang 5,839]

He could retire tomorrow and still be an MFC legend forever. But we still have 7 years to enjoy, the majority of which will be in his prime.

Not sure why his "spin" out of traffic doesn't get the plaudits Dusty's "don't argue" gets. It's every bit as glorious to watch in full flight. 

[Wrecker46 3,016]

Legend of the MFC. The greatest thing is I don't even think he is our best player.

[Deeoldfart 8,061]

I've followed the game closely for a very long time, and I don't think I've seen a more powerful player at breaking free of congestion / tackles and clearing a contest at speed ......... and this includes the likes of Dusty, Lethal Leigh, Ablett snr., and even our own RDB.  I know it can be unfair to compare players of different eras, but for me, Tracc is at a level all on his own.  

What a player, and what a year he has had!

[Rossmillan 589]

Could offer his mate Ben Simmons a few tips on performing when it counts!

[DeeZone 10,100]

Another young player that has impressed since day one, stated that he wanted to be the best that he could be. Tracc worked hard for himself and his team, he can turn a game ala RDB he shares the ball with everyone in a better position and just got better and better as we progressed in the finals playing his best ever game on the big stage when it counted the most. Tracc deserves every accolade that comes his way but at the same time was very emotional and raw upon achieving our greatest victory in 57 years.!!!💕❤️💙

[Webber 10,538]

3 hours ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

He could retire tomorrow and still be an MFC legend forever. But we still have 7 years to enjoy, the majority of which will be in his prime.

Not sure why his "spin" out of traffic doesn't get the plaudits Dusty's "don't argue" gets. It's every bit as glorious to watch in full flight. 

I prefer the ‘spins’. More skilful. I also used to practise these ‘blind turns’ in the backyard in the 70’s. Mine weren’t quite as good. 

[Deestroy All 14,266]

“Decent player”

- James Brayshaw

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

Has Buckenara increased his rating from a C+ yet? (the same value as J Wagner)

[gs77 4,445]

Loved him since we drafted him and so proud of how he's got his fitness to  a point where he can fully realise his talent. His game went to another level towards the finals and again in the GF. 

How good is it to finally have a Melbourne player win the medal named after the great Norm Smith?!?!  

[rpfc 28,769]

14 hours ago, Deestroy All said:

“Decent player”

- James Brayshaw

Hang on now. He was being facetious when BT was doing live on air genetic experiments to cross Daicos and Martin to get Petracca. And instead of saying “Brian, shut the [censored] up” he said “decent player.”

[rpfc 28,769]

I think the best part is that he has done this without the pressure that would have built up in 2 years with that contract and our drought and his consistency. But he slayed all those dragons and now he is ready for the real final season of GoT where we kill everybody.

No, it will be satisfying…

[Satan 2,881]

19 hours ago, durango said:

His Grand Final performance was sensational and if he has not hit his ceiling then we are in for great ride in the future, his chemistry with Gawn Jackson Oliver and Viney is unbelievable.

I don't care if he wins Brownlows but if he wins more Norm Smith's and Premierships then he will never feel he has missed out because team things are better the individual accolades.

Hid the norm smith after being presented with it , wanted to be the same as the other 22 players and not stand out. Says a lot about the guy and how team oriented he is.

Matured as player like others in last 2 years

[In Harmes Way 7,823]

If I was voting, he'd be the first player to make the AFL Hall of Fame whilst actually still playing.

[1964_2 2,357]

51 minutes ago, Satan said:

Hid the norm smith after being presented with it , wanted to be the same as the other 22 players and not stand out. Says a lot about the guy and how team oriented he is.

Matured as player like others in last 2 years

A great touch wasn’t it.

Mind you, I be disappointed if he didn’t:- a lot of other role players, and self-less games allowed him to play so well. 

ie Clarry manning Bont in 3rd qtr

[Supreme_Demon 3,899]

Christian Petracca has become a star of the competition. He definitely had a fantastic season in the AFL.

Winning a Norm Smith medal and a Premiership has put him up there with the greats of the Melbourne Football Club.

Many years ago he said he wanted to be a "hall of fame" player. He could become that...but he needs to keep winning Premierships and Norm Smiths with the Demons.

Here's hoping he continues to get better as a player and ends up playing over 300 games for the Melbourne Football Club.

Time to create a new Demons Dynasty Christian! Destiny is in your hands!

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

I remember his first pre-season, and how unfit he was. His potential was on display but he had so much work to do to become an AFL player. Then he did his knee and had to go to the USA for rehab. 

I've been watching for a long time and clearly remember the days of Alves, Ditterich and Biffin. Trac is as good as our very best, and is  the best contested ball, running forward from stoppage player I have seen.

Mostly, I love that he is a humble club man. When he got emotional after that first final saying he wanted to restore pride in the jumper for all the supporters who were embarrassed to show the logo - wow, just wow. And then he didn't display the Norm Smith medal so he didn't stand out. Wow, just wow again. 

And when he spins out of trouble!! I too used to practice it (in the paddocks around the house), tripping over trying to baulk like Robbie. Trac does it with grace, power and ease and then hits players on the chest. If he ever fixes his inconsistent on-the-run goal kicking, he moves into very rare air.

[Sir Why You Little 37,125]

Real Champions excell during September. 
Christian is one of them.

9th in the Brownlow, i mean really. That award has become a fashion parade. 
He could have 4-5 Norm’s before his career is up

[Cracker Nackers 115]

The Fist of God

[Lucifers Hero 40,358]

12 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Real Champions excel during September. 
Christian is one of them.

9th in the Brownlow, i mean really. That award has become a fashion parade. 
He could have 4-5 Norm’s before his career is up

Funny you should say that.  Dangerfield may have his Brownlow and 8 AA's but he is no Mr September.   any-danger-of-impacting-a-big-game

"Let’s get to the crux of this article, which many will consider something akin to shooting Bambi: Patrick Dangerfield, as decorated and celebrated as he is, isn’t a clutch finals performer, nor has he proven himself over his career to be a big-game player".

"...a glittering list of accolades that reflects his ability to be consistently excellent in home-and-away football. To argue against his excellence as a footballer is a fool’s errand and not the purpose here, but those awards don’t align with the idea that he can handle the pressure – the real pressure of finals footy – and he has never proven an ability to truly carry his side like champions do".

Harsh?  It is probably right.  He has had a smattering of match winning performances but not when it counts and certainly not in finals.   Lots of stats; not much impact.

As an aside, I doubt any main stream AFL media would be prepared to write that article. 

[John Crow Batty 8,878]

33 minutes ago, Premiers said:

Funny you should say that.  Dangerfield may have his Brownlow and 8 AA's but he is no Mr September.   any-danger-of-impacting-a-big-game

"Let’s get to the crux of this article, which many will consider something akin to shooting Bambi: Patrick Dangerfield, as decorated and celebrated as he is, isn’t a clutch finals performer, nor has he proven himself over his career to be a big-game player".

"...a glittering list of accolades that reflects his ability to be consistently excellent in home-and-away football. To argue against his excellence as a footballer is a fool’s errand and not the purpose here, but those awards don’t align with the idea that he can handle the pressure – the real pressure of finals footy – and he has never proven an ability to truly carry his side like champions do".

Harsh?  It is probably right.  He has had a smattering of match winning performances but not when it counts and certainly not in finals.   Lots of stats; not much impact.

As an aside, I doubt any main stream AFL media would be prepared to write that article. 

His output whilst outwardly impressive seems too scattershot, loose and individualist to gel into what would be considered focused team play and structure which is critical in finals. He just plays his own game and when the cats play bad it does little to lift their fortunes. 

Edited October 14, 2021 by John Crow Batty