Christian Petracca hairline fracture.

[robbiefrom13 877]

If he is hampered by the injury, then he shouldn't play.  We should still be thinking in terms of possibly playing in the Grand Final, and between now and then any Petrachan niggles other than the fracture should be eliminated if at all possible.  We should have enough other players to get past Brisbane, if we play smart.

In my opinion, there is enough forward-line shakiness for us to need a wildcard, to throw out Brisbane's thinking.  I'd roll the dice on an unknown van Rouyen, and tell him to upset the rhythm of Brisbane's defence - crash packs, take a mark when he can, and feed the ball in to our finishers as often as he can.  He's there to be something not-planned-for.  The unknown would be more value than bringing in a dependable and predictable but x-less Brown, or an underdone MacDonald, I think.  What we don't want is Brisbane taking on a known and depleted Demons.  Time for the risk.   I think Bedford's pace is worth trying, too, for the same reason.  Given their current form, Chandler or Dunstan can run through the middle, with instruction to look for Oliver, Viney and the wings.  

We are patching up a major hole in our starting mids, but also needing something extra in the forward-line.  That ought not to be an injured Petracca - he's a star, but in his injured state I don't think it's time to put the weight of the forward-line woes on his shoulders.  It's not as though he's a proven match-winner when thrown into full-forward.  Well, I'm not very confident, but I do think playing safe at the moment is not a brave approach.  I just re-watched the 2000 semi against Carlton, and in the end Neitz, Schwarz and Farmer didn't get us there - it was Bruce and Green and probably Yze.  Classic ambush, coupled with fitness.  And Ingerson and Walsh etc holding together.  Our backline's fine, we have Max and Clarrie in the middle - we need fit role-players and something Brisbane haven't planned for.  We need to get into their heads, and let recent history spook them a bit.  

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

Wasn't the club's concern for Petracca the corky/contusion rather than the fracture?  And it could be the former that caused him to be limping. 

If he doesn't play it is more likely to be the corky that keeps him out.

[In Harmes Way 7,613]

Lin Jong from the bulldogs played in a VFL grand final vs Casey in 2016 with a bad shoulder. Knowing he would be targetted, he taped up his good shoulder instead. I reckon Trac should give that a crack.

Hope I haven't created a spoiler alert.  

[Redleg 38,036]

6 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

Lin Jong from the bulldogs played in a VFL grand final vs Casey in 2016 with a bad shoulder. Knowing he would be targetted, he taped up his good shoulder instead. I reckon Trac should give that a crack.

Hope I haven't created a spoiler alert.  

I like it. Tape up a good shoulder and see if we can fool them.

[old dee 22,982]

11 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I like it. Tape up a good shoulder and see if we can fool them.

That tactic is as old as me. I remember it being done to team mates in the 60's.

[Bonkers 918]

5 hours ago, picket fence said:

Simple, Unless he is 100% fit he misses. On that basis he shouldn't and wont play! Stuff this "Up to the player"bulltish, this is a serious injury with the potential to become more serious!

If the club physios/ medicos clear him to play and Trac thinks he can have an influence on the game then you play him. The injury is a 6-8 week injury once fully healed. In a scenario that it gets worse during the game you sub him off. I'd rather Trac play if he thinks he is ok to play than omit him based on your 100% fit rule. The reality is that most players are managed week to week and are never 100%, it's impossible in a sport like AFL to have a 100% fit list. Look at TMAC he's come back 3 months early from a 6 month injury to have a shot at playing finals. The lengths these guys go to to get themselves ready to play is one of the reasons why they are paid the amounts they are paid, so you trust them and the staff at the club to come up with the right conclusion whether they are right to go.

A few examples off the top of my head where players played with injuries successfully in finals.

1) Ben Brown. He is likely to have never been 100% fit for the entire time he's been at the club, he is likely to be currently playing with significant knee impairment however provides us significant structure and work rate. Are you saying that we would have been better off not playing him in last years finals series? It's likely that every game Ben Brown plays he is pushing his physical limits and pushing his body closer and closer to retirement. 

2) Dermott Brereton. How many games in finals did he play banged up? I can think of one memorable game specifically that is by many regarded as the greatest AFL/VFL Grand Final ever. By your measurement Brereton shouldn't have been on the field because he wasn't 100% fit, instead he kicks 3 valuable goals with broken ribs when he should have been in hospital. Those 3 goals are the difference between the 2 teams as it was a 6 point win. That injury could have been a life threatening injury, in hindsight Brereton wouldn't change anything about the decision he made on that day to keep playing.

3) Steven May. He played last years grand final with a significant tear in his hamstring. I'm sure there was risk that he could have torn it even more, who knows maybe he could have torn it off the bone and never been the same? However he got through the game and he was important in us winning the game and the first flag for the club in 57 years.

I could go on and on with other examples and I get your point and why you are saying what you are saying. However the ideal scenario of being 100% fit just doesn't stack up, especially in finals. You have to trust the clubs advice around the risk profile of the injury on his career and the player around what he thinks he can achieve with his body and the injury. It can be the difference between a flag and being an also ran. Either sides of the coin have their pros and cons whether it pays off or not.

[Gorgoroth 12,359]

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Bet he still kicks a point…

 

[Jaded No More 59,133]

21 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

Bet he still kicks a point…

 

Score review to see if the severed limb touched the post. 

[daisycutter 28,685]

Just now, Jaded No More said:

Score review to see if the severed limb touched the post. 

nah got sent off because of blood rule

ball sent back to position of leg severance

free kick opposition

[Dee Zephyr 18,015]

One of the training galleries from today on the MFC site has 30 photos. Trac is in 12 of them lol.

Edited September 5, 2022 by Dee Zephyr

[DeelightfulPlay 2,268]

5 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

One of the training galleries on the MFC site has 30 photos. Trac is in 12 of them lol.

This is such a ridiculously random gallery - half the Trac photos are of him shirtless (when they were playing soccer), and then they have like 5 close up portraits of Lever (including one half in shadow).

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/1215327/afl-2022-training-melbourne-050922?type=gallery&modal=true&playlistId=1215327

paging @WalkingCivilWar, there's even a topless Langers  photo... talk about a Wild Tsun!

[Willmoy1947 3,814]

If they can't win without him they don't deserve to win at all.

[david_neitz_is_my_dad 3,946]

Looks like he will be playing, else why even go out and kick a soccer ball around

[Demon17 4,638]

46 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

One of the training galleries from today on the MFC site has 30 photos. Trac is in 12 of them lol.

The club website has an interview with Langers from This morning.

They show footage of training and Trac has a bandage below his right knee, top of lower leg.

Small sample size but he participated in soccer and didn't seem to limp in another section showing walking and bending drills.

Just trying to be positive here. Worth a look though.

[Jaded No More 59,133]

5 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

The club website has an interview with Langers from This morning.

 

I hope he didn't say anything controversial. 

[hardtack 10,149]

50 minutes ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

This is such a ridiculously random gallery - half the Trac photos are of him shirtless (when they were playing soccer), and then they have like 5 close up portraits of Lever (including one half in shadow).

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/1215327/afl-2022-training-melbourne-050922?type=gallery&modal=true&playlistId=1215327

paging @WalkingCivilWar, there's even a topless Langers  photo... talk about a Wild Tsun!

I think that a tactic we should employ, is to have Oliver face the opposition and lift his jersey whenever the ball is coming in; the glare would temporarily blind the opposition players giving ours time to move in a get the ball unopposed.

[Redleg 38,036]

3 hours ago, old dee said:

That tactic is as old as me. I remember it being done to team mates in the 60's.

Think you missed the point and the joke.

[old dee 22,982]

2 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Think you missed the point and the joke.

Hmm just checked my joke detector. Battery flat as a tack. 

 

[Redleg 38,036]

20 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I hope he didn't say anything controversial. 

Said he went for dinner on sunday with his girlfriend and ate the "Lion's" share of their shared plates meal.

Hope that doesn't cause any outcry from Brisbane.

It could be used as the revenge excuse by Zorko, Mathieson and Robinson, for the sniping that is sure to occur in the Semi.

[Redleg 38,036]

8 minutes ago, old dee said:

Hmm just checked my joke detector. Battery flat as a tack. 

 

Understandable as you probably haven't laughed for a couple of weeks.

[Stretch Johnson 2,601]

1 hour ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

This is such a ridiculously random gallery - half the Trac photos are of him shirtless (when they were playing soccer), and then they have like 5 close up portraits of Lever (including one half in shadow).

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/albums/1215327/afl-2022-training-melbourne-050922?type=gallery&modal=true&playlistId=1215327

paging @WalkingCivilWar, there's even a topless Langers  photo... talk about a Wild Tsun!

Were they taken by our former training reporter?

Would explain some things..

[layzie 29,760]

5 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Wasn't the club's concern for Petracca the corky/contusion rather than the fracture?  And it could be the former that caused him to be limping. 

If he doesn't play it is more likely to be the corky that keeps him out.

If that is the case then that changes everything. You can have the tiniest stress fracture in your leg and it is still a stress fracture, possibly painful but you could mnake it through a game. If the cork is the source of the limping then that is a much better and less scary outcome. 

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

4 minutes ago, layzie said:

If that is the case then that changes everything. You can have the tiniest stress fracture in your leg and it is still a stress fracture, possibly painful but you could mnake it through a game. If the cork is the source of the limping then that is a much better and less scary outcome. 

From Alan Richardson:

“The fracture poses no further risk to Christian and will not impact his ability to play.

“What will pose more of a challenge for Christian is the corky he sustained to his calf in a collision that occurred in the first quarter and hampered his movement for the majority of the match against Sydney.

Reckon Petracca will play.

[layzie 29,760]

2 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

From Alan Richardson:

“The fracture poses no further risk to Christian and will not impact his ability to play.

“What will pose more of a challenge for Christian is the corky he sustained to his calf in a collision that occurred in the first quarter and hampered his movement for the majority of the match against Sydney.

Reckon Petracca will play.

Well there you go, another case of the media throwing a cluster of different injuires out there for dramatic click bait effect.

[fr_ap 2,178]

Whilst I don't want him to do any further damage and would bet my house the snipey lions will go stand on his leg or something (J Berry probably), you can't undersell how crucial he is to us scoring. 

Highest score involvement player in the comp in a team that often struggles to score. I dont have the stat but wouldn't be surprised if he has a hand in at least 50% of our goals. Simply cannot be replaced. 

On that basis, he'll play. 

The one we should be more worried about is Fritsch, who is usually the one kicking said goals. If he doesnt play, we are really in trouble. 

More generally, nearly every player in the forward line is now carrying an injury and many with knees:

Fritsch, Brown, Melk, Pickett's all have troublesome knees. Spargo has a bashed throat & ANB played arguably the worst game of his life after struggling all year. 

I don't want JVR being thrown to the wolves....but short of Joel Smith, we might not have any other options.