Petracca set for major positional shift

Star Melbourne youngster Christian Petracca is going to spend up to 70 percent of his game time in the midfield this season, as the Dees look to cash in on his immense potential.

Petracca showed his faith to the Demons yesterday, signing a two-year extension to keep him at the club until at least the end of 2020.

He says he can’t wait to play prolonged periods of time in the middle, and has worked on his often-questioned endurance, to help him reach the requirements of a midfielder.

“It’ll be midfield, probably 70-30, 60-40, I reckon,” Petracca told SEN Breakfast.

“I have improved my endurance heaps this year and that was the knock on me last year, ‘he can’t play too much in the midfield.’

“I feel like I can play there for longer this year. The first JLT game is this week, and I’m excited to see what I can do in the midfield.

“I think it (endurance) was an area I needed to work on, and the coaches said I needed to improve on over the offseason.

“It has always been my weakness since I was a 17 or 18 year old kid.

“I can play forward, and I feel like I’m suited to the forward line a bit more than the midfield, but the way the game is going, you got to be able to run out games.

“I wanted to improve my endurance and I’ve been running a lot better this year.”

Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon endorsed the positional switch, saying having versatile weapons across the field is vital to a winning formula in the modern game.

“The more multi-positional you can be, the greater value you have got for your side,” he said.

“What you got with Christian is the modern day footballer, who will hopefully be dynamic, effective and explosive in the middle of the ground.

“He can be the midfielder of the highest order, there is no doubt about that.”

The 22-year-old is striving over summer, impressing in Melbourne’s AFLX victory last Friday night, while completing his first full preseason in his career.

Along with his mouthwatering talent, Petracca boasts an unbreakable confidence, something he believes is a positive.

“Who doesn’t want to be that guy with the ball in their hands to be honest?” he said.

“I don’t think it’s arrogance, I think it is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and something I flirt with, but sometimes you need to have that to be the best.”

Petracca battled a serious knee injury in his first season at the club, but has since fought off major ailments, and is now set to take the competition by storm.

It continues a positive period for the often-fledging Victorian club, as the Dees have secured the long-term services of stars Max Gawn until 2021, and Clayton Oliver and Jesse Hogan until 2019.

Petracca is of the notion the faith the club showed in him, along with the direction Melbourne are going in, meant staying was a no-brainier.

“I always knew I was going to stay here,” he said.

“It was just a matter of when. We all sat down the other day and agreed on a deal.

“I couldn’t be happier. I always knew I was going to commit.

“I don’t think there was pressure on my hands, I was always going to stay, but internally I just wanted to be here, so why not now?

“The environment the club is in at the moment is unbelievable. My teammates are so supportive and awesome.”

Melbourne also announced a new leadership model yesterday, keeping Nathan Jones and Jack Viney as co-captains, while trimming the rest of the leadership group, having just Jordan Lewis and Max Gawn accompanying the skippers.

Petracca hopes to be involved in that senior group, but admits he isn’t at that stage in his development yet.

“I don’t think I’m mature for that yet, but it is something I want to do later on,” he said.

“We are such a young team. I’m only 22, but I feel like I’ve been here for so long.

“We have cut it (the leadership group) down to four people this year, which isn’t necessary a bad thing, I think it is probably a good thing.

“Guys will have line leaders as well, so everyone in your team can lead and be more demanding of each other.”

Petracca kicked 26 goals in 22 matches last season, while also averaging 18.8 disposals, 10.7 contested possessions and 2.6 clearances per game.

Listen to Christian Petracca’s chat with Garry Lyon and Tim Watson on SEN Breakfast in the player below!