AFL 2024: Melbourne star Christian Petracca undergoes surgery after suffering lacerated spleen

Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca has gone under the knife after his injuries from Monday’s big hit were much worse than first thought. Here’s the latest.

Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca had surgery last night for a lacerated spleen, a punctured lung and four broken ribs.

Petracca went under the knife and stayed in hospital overnight after it was discovered his condition was worse than first thought, following a heavy hit in the loss to Collingwood on Monday.

The injuries threaten to sideline Petracca for months in a major blow to the Demons’ spluttering season.

Collingwood’s Mason Cox spent six weeks out of the team in 2023 after he suffered a lacerated spleen in a marking contest.

Medicos have not ruled Petracca needing more time on the sidelines pending his recovery.

Petracca is one of Melbourne’s top two players and would deplete them team of much-needed goal scoring power in the second half of the season if he remains out for an extended period, as expected.

Christian Petracca on his way to hospital after an accidental knee in the ribs

Christian Petracca went down to the rooms following this contest just before quarter-time.#AFLPiesDeespic.twitter.com/H4ikC5gvzY

— AFL (@AFL) June 10, 2024

Melbourne confirmed this masthead’s report on Tuesday afternoon and said a return-to-play time frame would be established in coming weeks.

A club statement said Petracca’s pain increased at half time.

“Scans taken at hospital revealed the extent of Petracca’s injury, with the midfielder sustaining broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and a small puncture within his lung,” the statement said.

“He underwent a procedure to stop the bleeding last night and remains in hospital for observation and recovery.”

Melbourne’s football boss Alan Richardson said the next few weeks were “crucial” in Petracca’s recovery.

“Obviously, Christian’s health is the number one priority for us at the moment. The next few weeks will be crucial, and we’ll be monitoring his progress closely to make sure he heals properly and fully,” Richardson said.

“As his recovery progresses, we will look towards a return to play timeline.

Christian Petracca has suffered four broken ribs + a lacerated spleen during yesterday's game.

Sending love Trac's way. 🫶

More Info📝 | https://t.co/kCvzbwjVjDpic.twitter.com/6iB5ynAmN6

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) June 11, 2024

“He’s obviously an extremely important player for the team, but his health and recovery are our top priorities right now.”

Petracca played on in pain through the second quarter, but was sent to hospital in the third term for scans for, at the time, what was suspected multiple broken ribs.

Petracca suffered the injury after copping a knee to the back from Collingwood’s Darcy Moore on the quarter-time.

The incident will prompt discussion about whether Petracca should have been allowed to re-enter the game after coming off the ground for assessment at the end of the first quarter.

Club doctors approved his return to play in the belief he had a rib injury, but it became clear in the second term he was in significant discomfort.

“Like anything with a broken rib, or a cracked rib, you certainly get some pain relief and see how you can go on. It’s standard process when you’re working through these type of injuries,” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said post-match on Monday.

“It was pretty evident that he wasn’t going to be able to play on so we just pulled it straight away at half-time.”

Christian Petracca in hospital. Picture: Instagram

And in pain walking off the ground. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Meanwhile, Nick Daicos says there’s nothing to be concerned about after he was subbed out on Monday following an ankle knock.

Daicos told Channel 7 following the Pies’ win over Melbourne that he was subbed out out of precaution.

The Pies being six goals up also helped, with the Demons not looking like threatening Collingwood in the final term.

BLUES HOPEFUL INJURY LIST SHRINKS

– Jon Ralph

Carlton is daring to believe its injury list could shrink to as few as five players post-bye as the club assesses Mitch McGovern’s tight glute and Harry McKay’s left shoulder.

The Blues marched to second on the ladder despite their savage injury toll that has seen them have more games missed from best-22 players than any other side.

Carlton will assess McKay’s shoulder after he crashed to the ground in a contest against brother Ben but he dodged concussion and was able to return to the ground.

The fact he was risked when Carlton likely had the game in hand is a positive sign even though his shoulder was heavily strapped.

Carlton’s Mitch McGovern also finished the game off the ground with the Blues saying that decision was precautionary as the interceptor spoke with medical staff on the bench about the glute issue.

He did not have ice applied in the rooms post match, but the Blues will be keen to officially clear both players to play against Geelong on Friday night after the bye.

Captain Patrick Cripps tackled Essendon’s Ridley to the ground during the Carlton victory and initial replays appeared to show the Dons defender’s head hitting the ground.

Harry McKay with the Carlton medicos during the final term. Picture: Michael Klein

But Cripps had only one arm pinned and a front-on angle showed minimal contact between the MCG turf and Ridley’s head so the Blues captain was not even fined for the incident.

Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield will return for that clash as the Blues attempt to continue their chase of ladder leader Sydney and push for a double chance.

Carlton is hopeful Adam Cerra (hamstring), Marc Pittonet (finger) and David Cuningham (calf) will all be ready after the bye.

Jack Martin (calf) will also be assessed after the bye but his return date after continued soft tissue concerns is less clear.

Jesse Motlop also battled soft tissue concerns across the first half of the season but he played VFL alongside Caleb Marchbank on Sunday.

Patrick Cripps is unlikely to face MRO heat. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

ump pings Cripps for a dangerous tackle 🤐#AFLDonsBluespic.twitter.com/xTcMjvMcZY

— outbreezy (@outbreezyWC) June 9, 2024

It means the Blues will finally have something close to their best side available in the back end of the year if they can dodge injury concerns for McGovern and McKay.

Coach Michael Voss said post-match he was not aware of the exact diagnosis for McKay.

“He obviously got hit in the shoulder. (The medicos) assess that. He was able to strap it and come back on, but for me to be able to form a prognosis out of it, I don’t know. We’ll have to wait until Monday to find that out.”

Matthew Cottrell’s navicular stress fracture in his foot will be assessed after the round 14 bye but he too will need to show strong improvement to be risked given the delicate nature of those injuries.

Saints ponder debutant to cover Howard as Danger return date set

Brad Hill has dodged a concussion diagnosis as St Kilda considers veteran Zaine Cordy as a replacement for Dougal Howard for Friday night’s clash against Brisbane.

The Saints’ low-scoring victory over Gold Coast gives Ross Lyon’s side a chance for three victories in a row at a Gabba venue where the Lions have lost three times already this year.

Howard’s second hamstring issue of the year means he will miss at least three weeks, but the Saints do have depth in their backline stocks.

Cordy played in the Sandringham draw against Gold Coast on Saturday and had 18 possessions.

The Saints are keen to blood first-year player Arie Schoenmaker at some stage this year after strong performances, with the left-footed key back the carry-over emergency for the Saturday night game.

Dougal Howard of the Saints looks on from the bench after being subbed from the game with a hamstring injury on Saturday night. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Ross Lyon didn’t rule him out as a replacement for Howard but it would be a big task to put him up against the in-form Lions forwards after their mauling of the Western Bulldogs.

Cordy was reliable in seven early-season games so will hope to be the replacement for Howard.

Hill came off the ground late for an HIA after being accidentally kneed in the head but Lyon said he was not concussed so will be available to play.

He got a knock to the head. No concussion. They will check him out. We are pretty confident he will play next week,” he said.

“Dougal has a bit of a hammy. That will be 21 days. He did it early in the year. He hasn’t missed a beat apart from that early hammy so it’s not ideal for him but Cordy played well at Sandringham. We have Schoenmaker as a key tall. We want to keep blooding kids as well. Seb Ross went back to form part of the back seven. (Cal) Wilkie and (Josh) Battle were fantastic. All the backs were pretty good but we put a lot of pressure on.”

Geelong says Patrick Dangerfield will play against Carlton after the bye after giving him another week to recover from a second hamstring strain this season.

Geelong has set a return date for Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Michael Klein

Dangerfield was not risked against Sydney but is locked in for what shapes as a huge Friday night clash against the Blues.

“He will be fine after the bye,” football boss Andrew Mackie said.

“It was touch and go this week and given the fact we can give him another two weeks leading into the Friday night, we can train him right up and have him humming for the back half of the year. He is going to be so crucial to our chances.”

Richmond’s Tom Lynch will need to train well to return for Dustin Martin’s 300th game but the Tigers are optimistic he will be ready for the clash against Hawthorn.

Lynch’s surgically repaired hamstring tendon is fully repaired but the Tigers are keen to ensure his body is also up to the rigours of AFL after recent soft tissue complaints.

Dion Prestia copped a kick to his calf in training last week and got another knock on the area so finished the Adelaide victory on the bench.

But Richmond is optimistic he has dodged any muscle damage so is hopeful he will also be ready for that clash.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Melbourne star Christian Petracca undergoes surgery after suffering lacerated spleen