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* Picture from Kangaroos.com.au
Drew Petrie Stats:
Number: 20
Height: 197cm
Weight: 105kg
D.O.B: 15/10/82
Games: 155
Goals: 130
This week’s choice of opposition player stems from one of my least enjoyable days at the footy as a Bulldogs supporter. On the 1st July 2007 we played the then Kangaroos FC, at the MCG, in what as luck would have it, was Glen Archer’s 300th game. It was always going to be a tough ask but it emerged very early on that we weren’t mentally prepared for the task at hand. We were 22 points down at quarter time but at the ground you knew we were finished, the 22 points may as well have been 100.
And our chief destroyer in that first quarter? Was it champion Roos small Brent Harvey who often proves our nemesis? Or inconsistent but potentially game breaking midfielder Daniel Wells? Or even Archer, who despite most of his body being partially crippled by self administered abuse on the field over the years, was still as courageous and tough as they came.
No, it was Drew “The Dish” Petrie.
If anything deflated a loving Bulldog heart that day, it was the sight of Petrie, previously a fairly lowly regarded utility tall who’d never seemingly found his position for any length of time, slotting 6 goals in the first quarter. Tom Williams looking every bit the inexperienced Queenslander. The artist formerly known as Brian Harris looking like he wasn’t fit to hold a candle next to this 30 minute unstoppable colossus. Sure he kicked only one more for the game to finish with seven, but by quarter time our backline were embarrassed.
2007 proved to be one of his most consistent years spending most of his time up forward and kicking 38 goals. In 2008 he stepped it up a notch again, this time spending a lot more time in the ruck and around the ground proving himself to be a much more damaging player than many of us had previously expected.
While he’s not a player likely to tear us apart (surely twice in a lifetime is too much), he is the kind of solid mobile tall that we’ve had trouble with in the past, who can be used forward in an attempt to stretch us. While it’s true that we have more height in the backline nowadays, Tom Williams is still not 100%, Everitt is still a bit suspect one on one and like Tiller probably doesn't have the size to match up on him.
Here’s some Youtube footage (with appalling audio) for those brave enough to relive it.
Bio From Kangaroos.com.au
North Melbourne’s second round draft selection (no. 23) in the 2000 National Draft, Petrie is now a seasoned campaigner. The 26 year-old has been a regular in the Kangaroos’ team since 2003 and notched up his 150th game in 2008.
Petrie has been used in a variety of roles throughout his career, primarily as a pinch-hitting forward and in the ruck. He’s had to come up against much bigger opponents, yet still provides plenty of hit-outs for his team.
After playing as a forward in the 2007 campaign and booting 38 goals, Petrie was expected to have even more of a presence in the forward line in 2008 but it wasn’t to be.
The 26 year-old played the important role of dropping back into defence and had the most consistent season of his career. He constantly repelled the opposition attack and took vital marks to help North Melbourne to the finals.
The big man was awarded the vice-captaincy after presenting fine leadership skills during the year and finished second in the Syd Barker Medal. He was also given the honor of representing his country in the International Rules series.
How will we counter him? I didn’t get to see North’s game against Melbourne so I’m not sure if he played a different role at all, but he was so successful in his role as a ruckman last year that I can’t imagine it will change much. He will drop back into the backline which will cause us problems if the Roos get decent pressure on us coming through the midfield. He can also be rested up forward while McIntosh goes into the ruck (Hale seems to be pretty much a permanent forward nowadays). He probably is a bit too mobile around the ground for both Hudson and Minson, despite being at a slight size disadvantage at the bounces. I’m not entirely sure of the best way to counter him around the ground if he does manage to slip away from our two rucks. Reducing his effectiveness will probably be more reliant on good midfield pressure and making sure he isn’t able to go unmarked around the ground. If we can move the ball well it will also help take him out of the game a bit if he does drop back deep. The obvious match up for him if he goes forward is Williams with Lake as a backup hoping that they get a better handle on him than they did back in 2007.
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