I was one that was thinking he was the answer to our prayers when he kicked 6 against Richmond. In fact I said after that game if we kept Max fit and Petty in form we would win the flag that year. I still think that’s true.

I was solely focused on him the following week against North when he got that foot injury and prior to the injury I thought he was fantastic. Taking good marks, good set shot kicking, leading into space, putting blocks in for others in short the total package for KPF. He is the definition for a confidence player

Unfortunately he hasn’t come anywhere near that very short bit of form post injury. I think we have a better chance of getting him back to his best if he goes back and plays in defence along side lever who I think is good at pumping up his tyres when needed. Perhaps we throw May forward for a game or two to see if that works. Not like we need to worry about finals now anyways. Petty back to his best and paired with Disco and our future defence would be looking strong.

Our coaching and development of key forwards over the past number of years has been shocking. Not surprising we are failing to get the best out of a defender playing forward when we are failing to get the best out of more natural forwards.

I still feel that our forward line issues are much less to do with personnel and relate far more to our system, ball movement and positioning.

We all know Petty is unlikely to ever become a 50 goal a year key forward, and I certainly see his long term future as being in defence.

However it is hard to blame him for our current woes when you have Rivers repeatedly bombing away and hitting Howe on the chest, or Oliver kicking out on the full running into an open forward line, or any number of the other blatant skill errors that we saw on Monday.

When we put the ball to his advantage and allow him to compete fairly, Petty is not losing too many contests. Van Rooyen in his current mindset is probably a different story.

I like Petty you get what you see. Expecting him to be a champion KPF is pushing the envelope too far. You will get 100% form him every week, depending on his opponent his results will vary. He does a lot of grunt work that goes unnoticed / unappreciated. He has after all played a valuable part in a Premiership team.

4 hours ago, picket fence said:

Agree he either plays in the backline OR he doesn't play full stop.

It is a tough one - Tmac squeezed out of the backline.

You'd imagine the selection committee wouldnt want to move Turner/May/Lever - so i'd still rather he be in the team as a forward than not at all. Has somethings to improve on no doubt.

His future should be as a Backman - but this might not be until season 2027.

It's not a Petty problem; it's a list problem. Shuffling deck chairs is bad for team chemistry. He provides a consistent target about the ground and helps bring the other forwards into the game.

Calls to disrupt a very effective backline by shuffling May/Turner are delusional.

Since Petty has moved forward the forward line looks a lot more functional. Shots at goal have increased and the forward defensive pressure has increased. Petty may not be the reason for this but he is certainly very much part of the equation.

I don’t think Petty is a mainstay in the backline or forward line. If he had a Curnow or a MacKay next him he would be very dangerous.

2 hours ago, old dee said:

I like Petty you get what you see. Expecting him to be a champion KPF is pushing the envelope too far. You will get 100% form him every week, depending on his opponent his results will vary. He does a lot of grunt work that goes unnoticed / unappreciated. He has after all played a valuable part in a Premiership team.

I don't expect Petty to be the #1 kpf and in that regard you can't be too disappointed. We simply DONT have a #1..not really.

He'd be fine as a #2 .. but he gets a decent back each game. As result he's not part effective.

He does have company in that regard

11 hours ago, Colm said:

I was one that was thinking he was the answer to our prayers when he kicked 6 against Richmond. In fact I said after that game if we kept Max fit and Petty in form we would win the flag that year. I still think that’s true.

I was solely focused on him the following week against North when he got that foot injury and prior to the injury I thought he was fantastic. Taking good marks, good set shot kicking, leading into space, putting blocks in for others in short the total package for KPF. He is the definition for a confidence player

Unfortunately he hasn’t come anywhere near that very short bit of form post injury. I think we have a better chance of getting him back to his best if he goes back and plays in defence along side lever who I think is good at pumping up his tyres when needed. Perhaps we throw May forward for a game or two to see if that works. Not like we need to worry about finals now anyways. Petty back to his best and paired with Disco and our future defence would be looking strong.

Yeah his 6 were vs Richmond, and they are a poor benchmark, almost VFL Level!!

Edited Thursday at 13:491 day by picket fence

11 hours ago, poita said:

I still feel that our forward line issues are much less to do with personnel and relate far more to our system, ball movement and positioning.

We all know Petty is unlikely to ever become a 50 goal a year key forward, and I certainly see his long term future as being in defence.

However it is hard to blame him for our current woes when you have Rivers repeatedly bombing away and hitting Howe on the chest, or Oliver kicking out on the full running into an open forward line, or any number of the other blatant skill errors that we saw on Monday.

When we put the ball to his advantage and allow him to compete fairly, Petty is not losing too many contests. Van Rooyen in his current mindset is probably a different story.

💯 correct our players don't read the cues on when to burst out and find space from fwd half turnovers.

If you watch the Bulldogs, Collingwood and Geelong on fwd hold turnovers and general build up play they know exactly when and where to run when a turnover eventuates.

They also have the cool heads and skilled personnel to pick through a defence that are caught on the hop.

Blazing away to the top of the square or into the pockets ain't going to cut it anymore, especially with the Inexperienced Tall forwards.

14 hours ago, Young Angus said:

Turner just so fast and excellent in defense, we need that speed there. I agree would rather him be in attack, but we would need someone just as fast and good at marking in defense to replace him. Lever looked better last game but not sure Petty would cut it back there anymore it would be a bit too slow I think.

Rivers

8 hours ago, old dee said:

You will get 100% form him every week

Lol no 😂

8 hours ago, old dee said:

He does a lot of grunt work that goes unnoticed / unappreciated.

Lol no 🤣

9 hours ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

💯 correct our players don't read the cues on when to burst out and find space from fwd half turnovers.

If you watch the Bulldogs, Collingwood and Geelong on fwd hold turnovers and general build up play they know exactly when and where to run when a turnover eventuates.

They also have the cool heads and skilled personnel to pick through a defence that are caught on the hop.

Blazing away to the top of the square or into the pockets ain't going to cut it anymore, especially with the Inexperienced Tall forwards.

Shame we haven't a decent forward strategy.

Who's that on ?