Christian Petracca is an emerging star of the AFL – but he’s got nothing on Dustin Martin yet
Hawthorn great Shane Crawford says Christian Petracca is the No. 1 player in the AFL and has “gone past Dusty’. It’s a big call, but let’s wait until the whips start cracking, writes Mark Robinson. TAKE OUR POLL
Mark Robinson
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Shane Crawford is correct, Christian Petracca has compiled a better season than Dusty Martin.
It’s only seven games old, mind you, and Dusty’s mega-million-dollar contract says in the small writing that he doesn’t have to bring his A-game until at least after the bye break.
Of course that’s not true, but it felt like it in 2019.
Crawford’s expansive appraisal of Melbourne’s Petracca comes after the powerhouse mid-forward dined out on Hawthorn’s credit card on Saturday afternoon.
Petracca circa 2020 is a joyful watch.
And he has built his fitness to the point where he believes nothing is beyond him.
Shark tap outs on the burst? Tick.
Crash through packs and stoppages? Tick.
Bomb long goals? Tick
Hit up teammates with sizzling and audacious passes?
Smile and laugh and love life as he does it? Tick.
The boy from lush and laid back Warrandyte is playing high-end football – some will say finally – and Brownlow Medallist Crawford reckons he’s now the No. 1 player in the competition.
“I just think his impact on the game has been outstanding. I think he’s the new bull, he’s gone past Dustin Martin,” Crawford said of Channel Nine.
“I know I might be jumping the gun, but this year so far, what he’s produced is some absolute first-class footy and the way he’s going, for me at the moment, he is my first pick if I’m putting a team together.’’
Gone past Dusty?
It is a knock-it-out-of-the-park opinion from Crawford who is clearly judging in the moment.
True, Petracca’s numbers and influence on the scoreboard, from his own boot and in helping teammates to score – the Demons scored 21 times against the Hawks and Petracca had 14 score involvements – has been the best of his career.
Petracca looking ELITE.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) June 13, 2020
(via @afl)
pic.twitter.com/vgp7CWtJM0
But can a wonderful block of seven games really mean he has “gone past Dustin Martin”?
Petracca’s career will be judged in the fullness of time, but if we are judging him on seven games, then yes, he has gone past Martin.
But if you compare Petracca’s 91-game career to Martin’s first 91 games with Richmond, Martin is the better player.
He’s ahead on ranking points, disposals, metres gained, goals and score involvements.
The metres gained – a 410 average compared to Petracca’s 294 – is lopsided because Martin largely played midfield and Petracca forward.
This season, the roles have been reversed and Petracca is ahead of Martin in every facet of the game.
That’s where Crawford has nailed it.
There’s always a bigger picture, though.
If Petracca was to go past Martin in an overall career comparison, then Petracca will be somewhat special.
Martin is 29 and Petracca is 24.
In the five-year difference, Martin emerged to one of the all-time great players.
In the 139 games played since his first 91, Martin has won the Brownlow Medal, the Leigh Matthews Medal, two Norm Smith medals and two premierships.
Greatness is afforded on the back of performance on the biggest stage – that’s finals.
In eight finals matches from 2017-2019, Martin was best afield or second best afield in seven of those matches.
The only final he has failed in was the 2018 preliminary against Collingwood, where he sat at full forward and couldn’t run.
Last year’s final series might’ve been his best. He had 27 score involvements and kicked 12 goals in three finals.
Back to Petracca.
He is an emerging star and by career’s end, he could be regarded as one of Melbourne’s best ever – emphasis could.
Because seven good games this year don’t make a career and they certainly don’t mean he has
Dusty covered, because we all know, Dusty’s best will come when it means most.
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Originally published as Christian Petracca is an emerging star of the AFL – but he’s got nothing on Dustin Martin yet