MELBOURNE'S Christian Petracca believes his enforced injury layoff in his first season has been a major benefit in his development.

Petracca, pick No. 2 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at training in February last year which sidelined him for the 2015 season.

"It's probably been the best thing for me," Petracca told AFL.com.au. "You look at Jesse Hogan's season last year. He had a great first year and that was purely to do with his back and having that year out. 

"I was able to watch more footy and gain more knowledge on how we want to play and about all the structures.

"Looking back on it now, I never would have thought having the year out would be the best thing for me."

Hogan's first season at AFL level in 2014 was wiped out by a chronic back issue that sidelined him for all bar one VFL game.

But the star Demons forward bounced back in a big way in 2015, claiming the NAB AFL Rising Star award and announcing himself as one of the competition's best young players.

Petracca, 20, has followed a similar path to his teammate and is one of the favourites to take out this year's prestigious honour after making his debut against St Kilda in round six.

He has played 19 games in a row as a high half-forward – Sunday's game against Carlton will be his 16^th in succession at AFL level – after an interrupted pre-season on the back of managing his knee issue and breaking his toe following a mishap while playing basketball over summer.

Petracca, who stands at 186cm and weighs 94kg, is averaging 17.3 disposals and he's kicked 12 goals from 15 games.

In essence, Petracca is still being treated like a first-year player and many Melbourne people believe his talent remains largely untapped.

"When I first played my debut game against St Kilda I felt like I was behind the eight-ball," Petraccca said. "Physically I wasn't up to the speed. But the more you get used to it, the more repetitive it gets, the better you get at it.

"I definitely feel like I've improved and I'm now up to that level, both physically and mentally, and I'm able to handle it better."

Petracca is renowned for his outgoing personality around the club and that brash attitude translates on to the field in the way he attacks the footy with power and confidence.

But he is learning to temper his confident persona and be more selective when he attempts to boost the morale around the place.

"I feel like I've got a good self-awareness. Knowing when the boys have had a tough loss or a good win, I'm definitely improving on how I conduct myself," he said.

"You've just got to pick your moments and I feel like I've got a balance between knowing when to switch on and switch off."