Christian Petracca pulls out of investigation into horror rib injury from King’s Birthday clash

Christian Petracca won’t take further part in a joint review by the AFL and player’s union into the catastrophic rib injury he suffered on King’s Birthday. JON RALPH has the details.

Christian Petracca’s manager says he is committed to seeing out his contract despite Melbourne’s on-field struggles, with the Demons star having withdrawn from a joint investigation into his catastrophic King’s Birthday injury.

Petracca has met with AFL football boss Laura Kane as the AFL and player union investigate his care but has told the league he cannot be a part of that ongoing probe as he backs in his club’s medical care.

He believes remaining as a part of that investigation would compromise his performance mindset as he tries to help lead the Demons into improved form.

Christian Petracca won’t participate in a review into his catastrophic injury sustained last year on King’s Birthday. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Fox Footy revealed over the weekend there had been minimal contact between coach Simon Goodwin and Petracca’s parents since his injury, but Goodwin had spoken with them in the past month.

Petracca’s Demons have had to endure a torrid start to the season and hit rock bottom with a 39-point loss to Essendon in Gather Round.

Petracca long held a grudge against the club himself over their lack of care and was told he was at one stage close to death.

But has made a point of moving on in recent months so he can continue to lead the Demons.

If Melbourne drops key games against Fremantle, Richmond and West Coast, Goodwin’s tenure will be on the shakiest of ground.

But his manager Anna Scullie told the Herald Sun he was fully invested in leading the club out of its current predicament.

Christian Petracca after his injury. Picture: Michael Klein

“He is completely committed to the club. He is only interested in performing and sticking by his teammates. He is fully committed to Melbourne. He is showing leadership. He is really committed to getting through this year and the next year. There is so much talk about him wanting a trade, but that hasn’t entered his psyche.”

The Herald Sun revealed earlier this year the AFL and player union had agreed to look into the circumstances of Petracca’s care after there were delays in his diagnosis with internal injuries and multiple broken ribs.

Petracca did meet with Kane, but has now compartmentalised that period of his career, and believes for him to have the best relationship with his teammates and club officials it is unwise for him to be a key part of that investigation.

Last week Kysaiah Pickett changed managers to the Perth-based agent who moved Tim Kelly and Shai Bolton back to West Australia.

But Anthony Van Der Wielen said on Monday that he had only taken on Pickett given the close relationships between that pair, Pickett and his brother-in-law Quinton Narkle.

Kysaiah Pickett has changed managers. Picture: Michael Klein

He has not taken on Pickett as a client so he can move him home, having not spoken to any of the WA-based clubs about the star mid, contracted to 2027.

The partners of Pickett and Fremantle rookie Narkle are sisters, and the couples have an especially close relationship given both have young children.

But Van Der Wielen will use the coming months to assess Pickett’s future, having taken him on to help set him up financially at Pickett’s request.

He has two more years on a contract but has often changed his mind about his future and is enjoying his time at Melbourne right now.

Pickett has plenty of time across the season to ponder his next move but would likely sign a new long-term deal with the Demons or at another club at year’s end.

Originally published as Christian Petracca pulls out of investigation into horror rib injury from King’s Birthday clash