STRENGTHS:

+ Leading patterns
+ Scoreboard impact
+ Marking
+ Consistency

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Finishing
- Athleticism

Jovan Petric is a player who really shot into AFL Draft calculations in 2022 off the back of a consistent season with the Western Jets. He started a little slowly, but a four-goal haul against the Calder Cannons in Round 3 put his name under the spotlight. He would continue to kick goals in all bar one game - Round 10 against Sandringham Dragons - in a remarkable feat of consistency. By the end of the 2022 season, Petric had slotted 26 goals in 15 games.

Petric is a traditional key forward in terms of his leading and marking, but he does have a high enough work rate that he can push up the ground to be a target and impose himself on a match. His numbers reflect his improving endurance and work rate throughout the season, with his first six matches netting him 7.2 disposals per game, while his last six stood at 13.2 disposals per game. He has enough forward smarts to lead to the right spots, and is someone who is a reliable target inside 50.

Petric did kick the 26 goals in 15 games, but he also kicked 21 behinds and sprayed a few, so his finishing in front of goal could have been better. If he had that little bit better finishing ability, he may have kicked more than 40 goals in the season. His athleticism is another area of improvement, though does not impact his influence, at least at junior level.