Bruce McAvaney has lauded Melbourne star Christian Petracca’s “astonishing” performance in this year’s Grand Final.
The legendary broadcaster says Petracca’s best-on-ground display against the Western Bulldogs was as “good as he’s ever seen” in a Grand Final.
Petracca’s numbers make for incredible reading with the North Smith Medallist recording 39 disposals, 11 inside 50s, nine clearances, 896 metres gained and two important goals.
“It was astonishing,” McAvaney told SEN Breakfast.
“He played such a brilliant finals series and that battle with (Marcus) Bontempelli all the way through that Grand Final, halfway through the third quarter Bontempelli had his nose in front.
“I haven’t seen anything quite like it. We’ve all seen ‘Dusty’ (Dustin Martin) in all his glory, Gary Ablett Snr, there’s been other phenomenal finals players over the years, but I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything as outstanding.
“The next three or four years are going to be fascinating to see where he’s going to finally sit.
“Ablett’s nine goals and there’s been one or two other performances, but I would have thought this is as good as I’ve ever seen.”
McAvaney took a liking to Melbourne’s “breathtaking” brand of football that resulted in a first premiership since 1964.
“This is a great team. Let’s see what happens in the next five years,” he said.
“They played the best football I've seen, certainly since Geelong from 2007 to 2011.
“That’s all-due respect to Hawthorn and Richmond and all the success they’ve had, we haven’t seen a more exciting team than Geelong were in their absolute prime, and maybe they (Melbourne) are even a cut above them.
“It was breathtaking.”
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