''I want to be one of the players this year who can kick straight in front of goal and bring other teammates into the game because again, 12 years in, you do have responsibilities, whether you like it or not,'' he told The Age’s Jared Lynch.
''You are one of the senior players in the side and you can't shirk that issue.''
After 48 goals playing at full-forward for the majority of the year and earning selection in the All-Australian side, the 29-year old has already earmarked some areas for improvement individually and as a side.
''I was happy. Coming from two games and three breaks in your feet was pleasing. But at the same time, we finished ninth again and didn't play finals, so it's bitter-sweet. I kicked, I think, 45 behinds as well, so there are games I probably cost us as well. I'm certainly aware of that.''
''Hitting targets with our feet has been our main issue. Last season we got found out a few times, so we have put a lot of practice into our skills. We did a lot of that over in America.
''We just have got to be smarter. We just can't bomb away all the time. We have to use our leading players and need our midfielders and half-backs to run the footy through a lot more, as opposed to us as being a bomb-it-long sort of team, which is what we were last year.''
Petrie missed the opening round of 2011 due to suspension and is being careful not to look too far ahead.
''I don't want to jinx myself … round one is my 200th [game]. There are bigger things to play for than an individual milestone,'' he said.
''Round one against Essendon on a Saturday night in Melbourne is months and months away, and I'm not even thinking about it yet. The only reason I have thought about it is that it's my 200th and I wanted it to be in Melbourne, and it is, which I'm happy about.''
