By Peter Ryan and Danny Russell
Melbourne captain Max Gawn says there will be no need to repair relationships between Christian Petracca and his teammates if he remains with the club in 2025.
Demons leaders have been in robust discussions with the star midfielder in the past few weeks as they listen to the issues he has with the club.
Gawn – who extended his contract with the club in recent weeks – told Channel Seven the process was useful.
Christian Petracca did not play again this year after suffering serious internal injuries against Collingwood in the King’s Birthday match.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“He has told me some frustrations he has with the club and I have shown him some that I have with the club,” Gawn said. “He is showing some frustrations, some which I agree with, and some I don’t, but that is what makes leadership groups fun, you have different opinions. There is no real repairing needed if he walks back in on day one.”
On Thursday, Gawn was at the AFL’s awards night, a day after the club’s wacky Wednesday, which Petracca attended.
Gawn’s comments came just hours after president Kate Roffey told SEN’s Whateley program that the club’s relationship with Petracca was salvageable, even though she admitted she has not had a conversation with the disgruntled star about his grievances.
Christian Petracca.Credit: Justin McManus
In her first interview since the Demons were told that their Norm Smith medallist was open to a trade, despite having five years remaining on a contract, Roffey said she was not exactly clear on the nature of Petracca’s grievances with the club.
“What I need to hear is, ‘Christian, what are the issues that you have with the club and how do we work towards a resolution?’” Roffey told Gerard Whateley.
Roffey conceded the Demons had issues to deal with, but said there was no need for an independent review of the club, with CEO Gary Pert overseeing an internal review of the football program.
Previous board challenger Peter Lawrence and former player David Schwarz have both said the club should conduct an independent review after two controversial post-seasons, and the Demons’ failure to win a final since their premiership win in 2021.
Roffey was optimistic trading Petracca would not be necessary and that they could resolve the problem internally.
“He’s a contracted player at our club, as I said, we love him, and we’re working through it with him, with the player leadership group, with the coaches, and you know, we will find a resolution to this,” Roffey said.
Melbourne president Kate Roffey says she has not spoken recently with Christian Petracca.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“He’s a critical part of our team, and we’re working to make sure that we get back out there next year with ‘Trac’ on the park in the best condition that he can be.”
She denied any suggestion the club was in a stand-off with Petracca as the controversy swirls around him.
“It’s not a stand-off, certainly not from our point of view. We’re sitting there going, ‘we’re listening, we’re working together’,” Roffey said.
“He’s raised some issues at the club, and some of them are very good issues, and we have taken them on board, and we’ve discussed them and spoken with them about what’s going on.”
Petracca’s issues with the club surfaced publicly three weeks ago after he returned from an extended break following the serious injury he sustained on King’s Birthday when he suffered a lacerated spleen, a punctured lung and broken ribs.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for Trac, full stop. An incredibly difficult time for Trac from the time he’s been in intensive care,” Roffey said.
“What he’s been through is significantly traumatic, and now what’s playing out in the media is very difficult for him as well. So we’ve got our arms around him. We’re not sitting there not talking to him, and we’re not sitting there not helping him find a way through this. We’re sitting there working with him to find a way through this unbelievably traumatic experience.
Christian Petracca with the Norm Smith and premiership medalsCredit: Getty Images
“Christian is clear, I’ve said to him [that] anytime he wants to talk to me, anytime he wants to come to me, to come to a meeting, I’m very, very happy to do so.
“So we’ll start working through those issues now that we are finished.”
Melbourne teammates met with Petracca on Saturday at Gawn’s Hawthorn wine bar, where Petracca’s issues were aired, however he proceeded to tell the club on Monday he was open to being traded if the club could find a suitable deal.
Roffey reassured Melbourne fans that star forward Kysaiah Pickett would not be traded despite telling the club at his exit meeting he was homesick.
“They all get homesick from time to time,” Roffey said.
“We spoke with his manager [Peter Rohde], and that’s not a trade thing. That’s about how we help Kozzie, be connected with his family when he needs to be connected with them, and still play great footy.”
Petracca has been All-Australian for the past four years, has won two club best and fairests, a Norm Smith Medal and was equal third in the 2020 Brownlow Medal.
Melbourne hold their best and fairest count on October 4, the Friday before trade period opens on October 6.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.