Jack Petruccelle has shown glimpses all season of his lightning pace and ability to break the lines. A good size midfielder/defender, Petruccelle isn't afraid to attack the football and win the contested ball. He is strong overhead and can often win the ball at half-back and run past opponents without anyone getting a hand on him. At times his kicking can be questionable with a few clangers ensuring based on the break-neck speed at which he is running, while he also has low numbers compared to other midfielders and therefore could lift his accumulation rate. Clubs will see the 18 year old as a player who will need development. Look for him to start AFL career playing off a half back flank or up forward as he has shown a good goal sense.

STRENGTHS

• Speed
• Inside game
• Overhead marking
• Vertical leap

Petruccelle biggest strength is his pace. During testing at the National Combine, the Northern Knight topped all participants in the 20m sprint with a time of 2.87 seconds. A very handy trait to have coming off half back, drawing similar traits to Essendon's Adam Saad. A hard nut around the footy, Petruccelle showed he can go in and grab the contestant possession averaging around four contestant possessions during the National Under 18 Championships. At TAC Cup level, he increased that number to nine, having more minutes in the Knights' midfield.

While Petruccelle will need to bulk up before going into the midfield at AFL level against the big body midfielders like Patrick Cripps, he is a strong overhead mark. This helps Petruccelle win a lot of contests and has an advantage with his leap at the footy. During the combine he ranked seventh amongst his peers with a standing vertical jump of 74cm. His contested possession rate in the TAC Cup is amongst the best with a huge 57 per cent of his posssessions won at the coalface, a true indication he developed from an outside speedster to an inside beast.

IMPROVEMENTS

• Accumulation
• Kicking

Petruccelle's two main improvements are his accumulation and his kicking. If playing along the half back line or certainly through the midfield, Petruccelle will need to gather a few more possessions. During the TAC Cup this year, Petruccelle averaged 15 disposals below most midfielders at the level. At AFL level this should improve as playing across half back he will be getting a lot more of the footy as teams look to switch the play from half back. But learning different ways to attack the contest and receive the ball or win the ball will be a benefit to him going forward.

His other improvement is his kicking, which at full speed can often result in clangers. Very few are moving at the speed he is when kicking so it can be understandable, but learning to hit targets at full pace will be a valuable weapon to have. Often he has more time than he thinks and this is something which will come with development.

DRAFT PROJECTION: 20-40

SUMMARY

Jack Petruccelle is the fastest player in the 2017 draft crop. He clocked up a time of 2.87 seconds at the National Combine in the 20m sprint and shows his acceleration off each game he plays. He is an inside beast who wins 57 per cent of his possessions at the contest and uses his pace to break up opposition zones. He is a strong mark overhead and has a nice vertical leap which sets him aside from other players. Petruccelle still has to improve his accumulation and find the ball a bit more, as well as tempering his kicking when at full speed to avoid the odd clanger. However as a whole, Petruccelle has plenty of top traits which clubs will look to enhance with a pick in the second round.