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Christian Petracca and his Demons teammates look dejected after losing to Geelong.Credit: Getty Images
Melbourne premiership star Christian Petracca looks like a player who is not happy at his football club, according to Seven commentator and two-time Norm Smith medallist Luke Hodge.
Petracca became the public face of the Demons’ woeful 0-4 start to the season when he buried his face in his hands walking off GMHBA Stadium on Friday night after their 39-point loss to Geelong.
Hodge said the pain and frustration showing on the Melbourne onballer’s face was damning.
“I understand people say you are competitive, [but] that looked deeper,” the four-time premiership Hawk said on SEN.
“That looked like a bloke who is just not happy where he is.
“I know he spoke about getting out and wanting to go last year [after his injury].”
Hodge said Petracca’s post-game reaction caught his eye.
“You’re sitting there going, ‘Gee, he’s not enjoying his time there’. Same as the other players,” Hodge said.
“But that is a big watch at the end of the season if it stays like this.”
Another all-time Hawthorn great, Leigh Matthews, said Melbourne was at the crossroads.
“Deep down, and I’m talking about the Petraccas, the Olivers and the Gawns, they would kind of know, ‘We’ve dropped off in our premiership contention, and we’re struggling around the middle to the bottom half of the ladder’,” Matthews said on 3AW.
“That’s a very frustrating time for footballers and football clubs. That’s when change tends to take place.
“All of a sudden, the group that took you there is not going to take you there again.”
Tim Taranto has roved the ball and snapped his first goal of the day as the Tigers score a second-straight goal to end the quarter.
Their pressure has gone up and it’s led to them keeping the ball in their side of the ground and stopping the Lions leaking out and counter-attacking.
Before that late run, the Lions had dominated the inside 50s and could well have led by even more, if not for some tough defending and a few bad decisions from their forwards.
Zac Bailey of the Lions pushes Tom Brown of the Tigers.Credit: AFL Photos
Seth Campbell continues to be a bright spark for the Tigers and he’s bobbed up again to take a mark in space and snap a goal.
Tigers mature-age recruit Jacob Blight is doing some sharp things as a key forward and second ruckman, his pickup and pass led to Campbell’s mark.
Lions 29, Tigers 13 with two mins to go in Q1.
The Lions showed their quality with a classy rebound from defence which saw them run through the middle eventually finding Will Ashcroft who ran into an open goal.
The Tigers are fighting away, the Lions just have too much quality and poise right now.
Toby Nankervis of the Tigers and Oscar McInerney of the Lions compete in the ruck.Credit: Getty Images
“The skill level has been impressive from Brisbane early,” Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall said.
Lions 26, Tigers 7 with six mins to go in Q1.
The Lions are putting their foot down now and Tigers defender Tom Brown hasn’t helped things by knocking over opponent Zac Bailey 35m from goal.
Bailey went down off the ball and the free kick was called. He booted through his 150th goal and told the young Tiger about it.
Lions 20, Tigers 7 with eight mins to go in Q1.
Harris Andrews leads out the Lions.Credit: Getty Images
It’s bright and sunny at the MCG and the young Tigers won’t die wondering against the reigning premiers.
Callum Ah Chee kicking the opening goal for the Lions but Steely Green just made the most of a Brisbane error and snapped the home side’s first goal of the day.
He jumped around all excited. You love to see a side as inexperienced as the Tigers having a crack as they are rank outsiders today.
Lions 8, Tigers 6 with 15 mins to go in Q1.
Toby Nankervis of the Tigers leads his team out.Credit: Getty Images
Izak Rankine of the Crows handballs.Credit: Getty Images
Fox Footy commentator David King says Crows star Izak Rankine should have had a free kick for goal in the final minutes of Adelaide’s one-point loss to Gold Coast today.
Rankine appeared to grab a mark but was cannoned into by Suns defender Sam Collins and the ball spilled out.
The umpire ruled he dropped the mark, but replays suggested Collins went into his back while spoiling.
“You would have liked to see him go back and have a shot – it’s either a mark or a free kick,” King said post game.
Crows fans at the stadium were fuming and booed the umpires after the siren.
Gold Coast star Touk Miller has praised his side bravery and poise in their one-point win over Adelaide today.
The Suns are now 3-0 and remain undefeated heading into Gather Round in South Australia next weekend.
Touk Miller.Credit: AFL Photos
“They really brought it to us in that last quarter and really tested out our [late game] scenarios that you always work on at training,” Miller told Fox Footy.
“We’ve got some boys who put their heads over the ball and even Bailey Humphrey winning that last ground ball was unbelievable.
“That’s the type of stuff you need to win games that are close.”
Mac Andrew has come up huge with a late punch to deny Thilthorpe, he then handballed and that allowed the Suns to run free of the Crows.
The umpires have made some tough calls late (such as the no mark call for Izak Rankine), but the Suns have held on.
