After 65 games with the Melbourne Demons, Christian Petracca still has a long way to go in proving his worth and living up to the hype according to former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon.
After failing to hit the scoreboard against Geelong, Lyon explained the 23-year-old has “enormous work to do”.
“He’s had enough opportunity, he was targeted 14 times (against Geelong). Petracca was the primary inside 50 target on the weekend,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“I keep hearing people saying what a great player, what a great talent – he is not a great player. He is a great talent. He’s a mile off it.”
Another dreadful loss fell into the hands of Melbourne this weekend, succumbing to an 80-point defeat to Geelong at GMHBA stadium.
Petracca’s importance to the side has increased twofold in 2019, with the trade of key forward Jesse Hogan to Fremantle during the off-season. Former St Kilda star forward Nick Reiwoldt believes Petracca’s issues are at a fundamental level.
“I don’t see any craft in his game. What I mean is, when you’re a forward you’ve got someone playing on you consistently trying to stop you getting a kick,” Riewoldt said.
“Now if you’re fast and he’s fast, you’re essentially playing athletics. Defenders now are so good at being able to go with you step for step and getting in a fist.
“You have to try and create some separation for yourself somehow and this is where the craft comes in.
“There are so many ways to create that separation. You can try and get in behind the defender to make him turn his head and then come back at the ball.
“You can stand and push and give yourself a meter with a push-lead, I don’t see any of that from Christian Petracca. What I see is, he’s always been the bigger kid and he’s always been more talented and he’s going to beat you on talent.
“There is an opportunity for him to take his game to another level by implementing some forward craft into his game.”
Melbourne take on Essendon this weekend in the hopes of securing their first win of 2019.