CHRISTIAN Petracca says the influence of senior coach Simon Goodwin and new offensive coordinator Troy Chaplin have been significant for his game over the summer.

Petracca said Goodwin’s elevation and the injection of Chaplin to the coaching group had been positive for him this pre-season.  

“They’re awesome. They’ve been great,” he told Melbourne TV.

“They’ve been really good mentors for me and a lot of other guys.”

Entering his third AFL-listed season, Petracca said he was feeling upbeat about 2017.

He expects to play half-forward and deeper in attack, while he hopes to spend some time in the midfield.

“The body’s feeling well and I’m running a lot better and I’m feeling a lot fitter, which is good,” he said.

“The biggest thing for me this year is playing my role and keep doing what the team needs me to do.

“Whatever Goody and Chappy want me to play, I’ll play it.”