Christian Petracca’s plight has been revealed amid queries over his treatment

Christian Petracca’s playing hopes in 2024 have been revealed amid major question marks over Melbourne’s duty of care.

The full extent of Christian Petracca’s horror injuries have been revealed as the Melbourne superstar recovers from an impact likened to a car crash.

Petracca was crunched by Collingwood’s Darcy Moore in a marking contest in the first quarter of Monday’s King’s Birthday clash at the MCG.

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The 28-year-old was left with four broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and a small puncture in a lung, requiring emergency surgery to stop the bleeding, and has since taken to social media to state his 2024 season is sadly over.

Petracca was transferred from Epworth Hospital to the intensive care unit at Alfred Hospital, where he remains on Thursday.

Attention quickly turned to the Demons’ medical staff after Petracca returned to the field in the second quarter, although the premiership winner took responsibility for that decision.

Christian Petracca after the injury and in hospital. Photos: News Corp/Instagram

Footy commentator Gerard Whateley has raised significant concerns over the “appropriateness” of that move and Melbourne’s approach with the midfielder as new details come to light.

The four-time All Australian has now confirmed he won’t play again in 2024 in a huge blow to Melbourne’s campaign.

“Thankful for all the love and support I’ve received these past few days,” he wrote on Instagram along with a photo from his hospital bed.

“While my season may have come to an end, I’m grateful I still have the opportunity to give it my all again in 2025.

In the meantime, I’ll be cheering the boys on from the sidelines and making some tasty meals in the kitchen.”

Petracca is expected to spend the rest of the week in hospital.

“This is a really serious situation for Petracca, who was moved from the Epworth to the Alfred on Monday night,” footy reporter Tom Morris said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.

“He had a blood transfusion, the surgery was serious, so much so there were fears at one point he would lose his spleen.

“In the end he was diagnosed with a grade five spleen laceration, there’s no grade six, that’s as serious as it gets without actually losing the spleen.

Teammates and medical staff attend to the fallen star. Photo: Michael Klein

“He spent the last couple of days in the intensive care unit … he’ll be transferred out of that tomorrow or the next day.

“I think it’s unlikely he leaves hospital before the weekend at the absolute earliest.”

Simon Goodwin’s side began the year with wins in six of its first eight games to emerge as a potential flag contender.

But the Dees have lost four of their past five games to slump to 10th on the AFL ladder.

Melbourne has a bye this week and then 10 matches remaining in the home and away season and Morris said Petracca was unlikely to play again this year.

“From a football perspective, it is highly unlikely he plays again this season,” he said.

“I’m told the best case scenario is 10 to 12 weeks, which takes us to the end of the home and away season.

“Don’t underestimate the seriousness of what’s going on. His injuries are comparable to a car crash victim.

“That’s how serious it is.”

Petracca on his way to hospital after the incident.

The Demons have insisted Petracca’s health and recovery “are our top priorities right now” and had not put any timeline on his return prior to his own announcement.

Petracca had also taken to social media after the incident to insist he is “responsible for putting myself out there by the way for people talking about the medicos”.

Whateley has taken issue with the entire process, however, penning an article on SEN to express his concerns.

“After the seven-minute quarter-time break, (Petracca) sat out the first eight minutes of the second term,” Whateley wrote in part.

“What treatment was administered in that 15-minute block? When Petracca returned he played for the next 21 and a half minutes unchanged.

Gerard Whateley has major issues with the process that allowed Petracca to return to the field. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

“The vision showed he was in excruciating pain and looked grey … so obviously unwell that it turns out opponents expressed their concern out on the field.

“There were enough hints to fear Petracca’s injuries might be serious, even dangerous, drawing into question the appropriateness of him being on the field rather than further examined to diagnose the nature of his injuries.

“Hindsight is twenty/twenty but there were enough red flags in real-time to raise serious questions worthy of public debate and official oversight.

“It’s very difficult to simply swallow the unsubstantiated insistence all the decisions made were swift and appropriate.

“Even those involved have surely second-guessed what transpired.”

Originally published as Christian Petracca’s plight has been revealed amid queries over his treatment