Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca has addressed his premiership teammates about future at the club

Christian Petracca has spoken with his teammates about his future, and while JAY CLARK reports the superstar is unlikely to part ways with the Dees – there might be a preferred destination.

Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca has addressed his premiership teammates about his frustrations with the club and the brutal physical and mental toll of his life-threatening injuries on King’s Birthday.

The superstar midfielder is exploring the possibility of a bombshell trade out of Melbourne and spoke openly with his premiership teammates about his situation at AAMI Park late Monday morning.

In particular, Petracca wanted to provide more clarity about the anguish and the considerable impact his injuries – including a ruptured spleen, punctured lung and four broken ribs – had on him and his family.

Petracca, 28, required emergency surgery after playing on with injuries in the second term of the Round 14 clash against Collingwood and spent one month in Noosa with his fiancee, Bella, to help recuperate.

Christian Petracca of the Demons in pain after copping a Darcy Moore knee in the ribs on King’s Birthday. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood, which does not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, is considered his most likely preferred destination, even though a deal looks enormously difficult to pull off.

Without a first-round pick, Collingwood would have to consider offloading a star player to have any hope of completing what would be arguably the biggest trade deal since Geelong handed over three early picks for ex-Giant Jeremy Cameron in 2020.

The Demons are set to take on the Magpies at the MCG on Friday night with both teams set to finish outside of the eight after disappointing 2024 campaigns.

Christian Petracca addressed his teammates on Monday morning. Picture: Michael Klein

He opened up on the impact of his life-threatening injuries.

Melbourne has maintained it does not want to trade Petracca under any circumstances, but club chiefs made similar comments about former ruckman Brodie Grundy before processing a deal to send him to Sydney Swans last year.

Petracca, who has been publicly silent on his future over the past week, would have to forcibly demand a trade to have any hope of making his way to a new club after nine years, one premiership, two best and fairests and four All-Australian jackets at Melbourne.

Last month the Norm Smith medallist said on AFL 360 on Fox Footy “there is probably some – a little degree of frustration and emotion to it because they (family) were the only ones who knew the severity of the injury”.

“They saw me; that I needed blood transfusions at two in the morning. If I had a son or if I had a brother who was in the same situation I would be feeling a range of emotions – frustration, disappointment,” Petracca said.

“It was a very stressful time for everyone.”

Coach Simon Goodwin has confirmed senior club officials have been in regular discussions with Petracca about his frustrations which are believed to include his injury situation and the club’s off-field culture and on-field performance.

Petracca is one of the game’s most dynamic and dangerous midfielders but has had to spend periods of games in a forward role to help bolster its scoring power in recent seasons.

Captain Max Gawn said there would be more conversations with Petracca once the regular season concluded.

The skipper said he had no problems with Petracca’s lengthy stay in Noosa away from the team.

“I’m in open dialogue with Trac. I don’t see the build-up that’s happened with Trac,” Gawn said on Triple M on Monday.

“He went away for nine or 10 weeks, and four of them were to Noosa.

Collingwood looms at Christian Petracca’s desired destination if he was to leave the Dees. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“He had to spend a few weeks at home early on after the surgery and I’m happy he did that.

“I’m happy he went away. Any player that is struggling mentally with anything that is going on – it doesn’t have to be to ICU (intensive care unit) for two weeks that Trac had.

“It can just be a rolled ankle. Anyone that is struggling, more than happy to grant anyone leave on that as well.

Gawn said he would speak with the club’s top brass about its biggest issues from Tuesday next week. The club bowed out of finals in straight sets in 2022-23 and has an 11-11 record this year.

“That will all play out. There will be conversations that will be had over the next two weeks,” Gawn said.

“I’m pretty focused on Collingwood to be honest and I was focused on Gold Coast at the weekend.

“I will start talking to the board, CEO (Gary Pert), ‘Richo’ (football manager Alan Richardson) ‘Goody’ (coach Simon Goodwin), and all the players about how we make this club better.”

Originally published as Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca has addressed his premiership teammates about future at the club