Demons pledge AFL patience with kids

Melbourne coach Paul Roos has pledged patience as the Demons try to make AFL messiahs out of Christian Patrecca and Angus Brayshaw.

After St Kilda took Paddy McCartin with the No.1 pick in Thursday night’s draft, Melbourne used the second and third selections on Patrecca and Brayshaw.

The pair can go a long way to helping solve Melbourne’s glaring lack of midfield depth, but Roos knows it might take time.

He is determined that Melbourne will do better in developing their young talent.

After Sam Blease left Melbourne for Geelong earlier this month, the No.17 draft pick bemoaned his progression at the Demons.

While noting that players had to take responsibility for their own form, Blease added he had five coaches in six years at Melbourne.

“Hopefully we’ve changed the mindset of the AFL general population and obviously Melbourne supporters – that we’re not relying on picks two and three,” Roos said.

“We just hope they come in, get really good habits, train well and then if they play well enough they get a (senior) game.

“If they don’t, they have a development period, whether that’s one year, two years.

“At some point, hopefully they’ll become good players.”

All this meant nothing to Petracca and Brayshaw on Thursday night – they were just rapt to have been drafted.

It is an added bonus for the friends that they have gone to the same club.

“Basically you could say we’re the same player – we’re so competitive and driven,” Petracca said.

“We will do whatever it’ll take to win.”

Petracca added despite their status as high draft picks, he and Brayshaw have much to learn.

“We’ve still got to work hard and earn respect of our teammates,” he said.

“Listen in – there’s two ears and one mouth so listen twice as hard.”

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