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Lachie Neale

2020 AFL Brownlow Medal

Melbourne Demons midfielder/forward Christian Petracca is on the cusp of AFL superstardom. While it has been a rocky road for Petracca, who has had sky-high expectations placed on him, in 2020 he is starting to realise his enormous potential.

Ultra-hyped as a teenager, Petracca was drafted by the Demons with the second overall pick in the 2015 draft. But an ACL injury saw him miss the entire season, while a broken toe delayed his much anticipated debut until round 6 of 2016.

Lofty comparisons and predictions of greatness continued to flow from respected judges over ensuing seasons. The prototype for the forward-midfielder, Petracca’s speed through the midfield, size and physical presence inside 50, and natural goalscoring ability contributed to Melbourne’s drive to the 2018 preliminary final. But like many of his teammates during the Demons’ 2019 decline, Petracca was underwhelming last year.

The 24-year-old’s massive potential remains evident, however, and he is seemingly ascending to the top strata of AFL players in 2020. After a stunning round 7 performance against Hawthorn, he was lauded by former Hawks champion Shane Crawford, who predicted Petracca would assume Dustin Martin’s mantle as the AFL’s best player sooner rather than later.

Petracca has played 98 games for the Demons, kicking 92 goals and averaging 19.55 disposals per game. His blistering form is attracting Brownlow Medal attention and has helped lift his side into the top eight after a shaky start to 2020.

Christian Petracca betting is becoming increasingly popular courtesy of Sportsbet’s AFL Player Hub. Christian Petracca odds are available on a wide range of markets, including Christian Petracca disposals bets and Christian Petracca early first goalscorer options. Meanwhile, also check out Christian Petracca’s Brownlow Medal odds.

 

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA BROWNLOW MEDAL: TIME TO MAKE A BELATED IMPRESSION

Christian Petracca’s Brownlow Medal history in four previous AFL campaigns is modest, to say the least.

The Demons tyro picked up two votes in 2017, three votes in 2018… and zero nods from umps last year. Before this year, his last votes came way back in round 3 of 2018.

The consensus is that he almost certainly grabbed the maximum three votes after an influential showing in Melbourne’s one-point win over Carlton in round 2, notching 24 disposals, six tackles, five clearances and two goals – including what turned out to be a brilliant matchwinner in the third quarter.

Petracca was one of the best afield in Melbourne’s pressure-relieving victory over Gold Coast in round 6, racking up 25 disposals, six clearances, six marks and two goals.

But his best showing of 2020 – and among the finest of his career to date – came against the Hawks in round 7, getting 29 disposals, a goal and a remarkable 14 score involvements to attract unanimous best-on-ground acclaim. He was tipped to have grabbed another three votes in round 11 courtesy of a sizzling display in the Demons’ 57-point demolition of the Kangaroos, where he contributed 29 disposals, one goal and 12 score involvements.

The strapping youngster’s breakout season continued with influential efforts – and potentially more Brownlow votes – in the Dees’ thrashing of the Magpies in round 12 and their nailbiting victory over the Saints in round 14.

Petracca’s form surge sees him on the second line of Brownlow Medal betting behind hot favourite Lachie Neale on the eve of round 15. More of the same form should see the Christian Petracca bets flood in and Christian Petracca odds firm as the Brownlow race heats up in a shortened season. Check out other players in Brownlow Medal contention at Sportsbet News.

 

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA FIRST GOALSCORER: TEMPTING ODDS

Melbourne’s leading goal kicker in 2019 (albeit with a modest total of 22), Petracca kicks a high proportion of his goals in the first quarter. He kicked the first goal of the match once each in the 2016, ’18 and ’19 seasons, while he slotted the Demons’ first of the match three times in 2017.

Petracca kicked the second goal of the match in the Demons’ round 2 eclipse of the Blues and the round 6 win over the Suns. He booted Melbourne’s opener in a heavy round 9 loss to the Power but it came deep in the second quarter, by which stage the opposition already had six goals on the board.

But the in-form tyro saluted for first-goalscorer punters in round 14, belting the cover off the Sherrin from outside 50 for the opener against St Kilda.

There’s a six-strong contingent of players ahead of Petracca in the first-goalscorer market for Melbourne’s crucial meeting with Sydney in AFL round 15; a Christian Petracca bet in this market is mighty tempting given his fast-starting habits.

 

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA ANYTIME GOALSCORER OR TO SCORE TWO OR MORE GOALS: A VALUE BET

Christian Petracca averages 0.94 goals per game, slotting at least one major in 63 of his 98 AFL career games to date.

Last season, he scored in 15 of 22 games, including a nine-match mid-season streak. In Melbourne’s round 2 win over Carlton this season, Petracca notched two after going goalless in the round 1 loss to West Coast, and he was one of just five Demons goalscorers in round 4’s low-scoring defeat by Geelong.

He didn’t get on the scoresheet in round 5 against Richmond, but he bounced back with a pair of goals to help Melbourne take down Gold Coast, then landed a stirring 49m effort in the final quarter against Hawthorn. Petracca went goalless in the round 8 defeat by the Lions, but was one of only three Demons to kick a major against the Power in round 9.

He kicked 0.3 against the Crows in round 10, but drilled a long-range goal in each of the Dees’ wins over the Kangaroos and Magpies in consecutive rounds, taking his 2020 tally to nine from 11 games, before coming up empty against the Bulldogs.

But punters’ interest will have been piqued by Petracca’s career-high-equalling bag of four goals (in a team total of just eight) against the Saints in round 14, including the sensational matchwinner.

A Christian Petracca anytime-goalscorer bet offers plenty of value for punters ahead of the eighth-placed Demons’ key encounter with the battling Swans on Thursday.

Petracca has kicked two or more goals on 21 occasions, including seven bags of three or more. He booted four goals for the first time against Essendon in 2017. Although his shift to the midfield and the 16-minute-quarter change may reduce the frequency of big hauls, punters will find some tantalising prices available on Christian Petracca to put two, three, four, five or more goals past the Swans in round 15 after last week’s stunning performance.

 

CHRISTIAN PETRACCA DISPOSALS: BALL-HUNGRY DEMON A RELIABLE OPTION FOR 20-PLUS

The disposals markets may provide the most dependable Christian Petracca betting options. He’s at very short odds to get more than 20 disposals against the Swans, and has broken the 20-disposal mark in 19 of his last 24 games. He was restricted to 18 by Geelong in round 4 and had a season-low 15 against the Saints last week, but has had 24-plus disposals in 10 of his other 11 outings in 2020.

Petracca’s ability to consistently chalk up big disposals totals was expected be stifled by the reduction in time to 16-minute quarters in 2020, but this hasn’t held him back. His consecutive hauls from rounds 5 to 7 were just the fifth, sixth and seventh times in his AFL career that he had ventured into the 25-plus bracket, and he equalled his career-high total of 29 disposals in the rousing round 7 defeat of the Hawks.

Petracca racked up another 24 disposals in Melbourne’s back-to-back losses to Brisbane and Port Adelaide, and still managed 20 in the win against the Crows despite being overshadowed by teammates Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney. He matched his career-best again with 29 as he bamboozled the Kangaroos in round 11, then picked up exactly 24 for the sixth time this season against the Magpies – an agonising result for 25-plus punters. Petracca boosted his average with 26 disposals in a losing effort against Western Bulldogs in round 13.

https://twitter.com/AFL/status/1300364040175140865?s=20

The prolific returns are a reflection of Petracca’s massive improvement this season, as well as his shift to more of a midfielder role. He is averaging 23.76 disposals per game this season, compared to a career average of just under 20.

Investing in a Christian Petracca to get 25 or more disposals bet against the Swans is a sound option as he looks to hit that threshold for the sixth time in 11 games.

 

AFL expert tip

Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons – Melbourne win, Christian Petracca to get 20 or more disposals, and Christian Petracca to score two or more goals

Melbourne locked in a mid-table dogfight for a spot in 2020 finals, with every match from here on in incredibly important. But a clash with lowly Sydney should give the Demons a four-point boost on the ladder. If his form over the past couple of months is any indication, Brownlow contender Christian Petracca will be too hot for the Swans to handle on Thursday.

 

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