He’s preparing for his 16th season with a 300-game milestone on the horizon, but Drew Petrie is showing all the signs of producing another strong season.
RELATED: Drew Petrie player profile
Petrie was the only player in the AFL to reach a double-figure goal tally in this season’s NAB Challenge, a promising form-line as he looks to rectify his slow beginning to 2015.
The 33-year-old kicked just 11 goals in his first eight matches last season.
“The start [of 2015] was slow, and I didn’t contribute enough on the scoreboard early,” he said in the lead-up to 2016.
Playing a little bit closer to goal than usual – almost two thirds of his possessions were in the forward 50, significantly up on previous home and away seasons – Petrie has been able to showcase the benefits of an impressive summer on the track.
He returned several kilograms lighter than in previous seasons, and was the only Roos’ veteran to get all three NAB Challenge matches under his belt.
A strong season for Petrie could see him in the club’s top five goal kickers of all time by the end of 2016.
He starts the year on 401 career goals; Malcolm Blight is currently fifth with 444.
NAB Challenge goals
10 – Drew Petrie
8 – Alex Fasolo, Corey Gault
7 – Luke Breust, Jeff Garlett, Nathan Vardy
