Demons star Christian Petracca: ‘My true passions in life are footy and fashion’

Melbourne star Christian Petracca has opened up about his “true passions” and what makes him tick.

Melbourne star Christian Petracca is swapping footy for modelling. Picture: Supplied

This is Melbourne star Christian Petracca as you have never seen him before.

The classy midfielder has swapped footy for fashion and marking for modelling as the new ambassador for luxury watch and jewellery retailer Kennedy.

“I was a bit nervous before it (the photoshoot), it is obviously a bit of a change of pace from footy, but I absolutely loved it. My true passions in life are footy and fashion,” he said.

“The thing I love about them (the photos) is it is Christian Petracca off the field and a change of pace from footy. I think if you ask any athlete what makes them tick best on the field is having hobbies and interests away from the sport, away from any job that you have.

“I love fashion, I love dressing up, I love going out to dinner with my partner, I think adding a nice watch to that is really special.”

Petracca says ‘if you ask any athlete what makes them tick best on the field is having hobbies and interests away from the sport’. Picture: Supplied

Petracca is now sporting an IWC Schaffhausen ‘Top Gun’ Pilot’s Watch.

“It is absolutely stunning. It is a bit of a change to my $50 Casio that I have been wearing for years,” he said.

At 26, Petracca is signed with the Demons until the end of 2029 but he is already building interests and skills outside of footy.

“The beauty about the job I am in is the connections in footy and the people you can meet and work with,” he said.

Petracca is the new ambassador for luxury watch and jewellery retailer Kennedy. Picture: Supplied

“For me I am only 26 and I signed a seven year deal so there is a little bit of security there, but at some point everybody’s career ends so I have to think of something away from footy.

“I am dipping my toes in a few things. I have been studying commerce/marketing at Swinburne, doing some media stuff on AFL 360 and KIIS FM and I have done a few coaching courses too.”

Petracca said he was relishing the challenges, added pressure and increased scrutiny that came with Melbourne being the reigning premiers.

“It has been an interesting year, but we are still equal top of the ladder,” he said.

“We are not playing our best footy at the moment, but it is also very eerie, it is very similar to last year where we had a little patch where we weren’t playing our best footy, we were a bit sluggish and then right before finals we kicked into gear.

“Simon Goodwin has addressed that and just said ‘now is the time to put our foot down’.

“It is a different challenge. We are obviously being the hunted each week, teams are coming at us and wanting to beat us because we are the reigning premiers and we have never had that before. “For us I would rather be the hunted than be hunting. The feeling of being at the top and everyone putting pressure on you to win, I love that feeling.”