Christian Petracca saga: Demons captain Max Gawn planning for disgruntled teammate to be with Melbourne in 2025

Max Gawn was last night named All Australian for the seventh time – and the Demons captain revealed that Christian Petracca remains in his 2025 plans.

Melbourne captain Max Gawn is treating Christian Petracca “like he is going to be there at round 1 next year” as he remains steadfast the superstar Dee will figure out his differences with the club.

The noise around Petracca has only grown in recent weeks as reports have leaked of the Norm Smith medallist wanting to leave the club.

He has had in depth chats with Gawn about his problems with the club and the skipper revealed he has told Petracca about his own disappointments with the club.

Melbourne has remained steadfast it wont trade Petracca, who has five years to run on his contract.

Max Gawn speaking at the All Australian awards. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gawn couldn’t categorically say Petracca would be at Melbourne next year but he said he would continue to “invest” in the midfielder.

“(A trade) is nowhere near my department, my department is to look after the playing group that we have at this point and I am looking after him like he is going to be there at round 1 next year,” Gawn told Fox Sports.

“There is still a long way to go with his injuries, there is a long way to in the next month.

“My goal is whatever side I have out there round 1, which has Christian Petracca in it at the moment, is a side I am going to really invest in for the next six months.”

Petracca attended Melbourne’s ‘Wacky Wednesday’ this week and Gawn said the superstar was still the same man.

“We had our Wednesday function to finish the year and he is the Christian I have fallen in love with,” Gawn said.

“He is a great friend, he is a premiership teammate and we have been playing footy together for 10 years now. There has been trade speculation for a lot of years now.

Christian Petracca and Max Gawn at the 2023 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Football is one thing but right now we are in the thick of it because there are articles every single day but the friendship will be there. We have had some good, honest conversations over the past few weeks and there will be more to come.”

When asked about the specifics of Petracca’s disgruntlement, Gawn refused to go into details.

“I had some opinions as well, we agreed on a few things, we disagreed on a few things,” he said.

“That is what leadership groups are for, for us to share a few things.

“I am fully aware what has made him upset at different times this year and he is fully aware what has made me upset at different times this year and hopefully we get to that common goal.”

The Demons will lose Alex Neal-Bullen this off-season as he hunts a trade to South Australia but is confident Kysaiah Pickett will stay despite hints of homesickness.

Originally published as Christian Petracca saga: Demons captain Max Gawn planning for disgruntled teammate to be with Melbourne in 2025