Mark Robinson: Weirdness surrounds Christian Petracca’s future, but will he actually move?

The Christian Petracca situation is not only weird to the fans, MARK ROBINSON reports, it’s also weird for some of the players at the Demons, who recently discussed the star’s future.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 11: Christian Petracca of the Demons looks on during the round five AFL match between Melbourne Demons and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on April 11, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The rustic Marion Wine Bar in Gertrude St, Fitzroy, was the scene for a peculiar little gathering of Melbourne players on Tuesday night.

Clearly, the players didn’t seem to care – or they thought they couldn’t be heard – by the table of serious football fans sitting at the next table.

The pleasant surprise seeing AFL players on a windy Tuesday night was one thing, their astonishment at what the players – clearly frustrated – were saying about Christian Petracca was another.

So much so, notes were taken.

Words such as “weird” were heard, and how Petracca’s “weirdness” was accepted at Melbourne, but would not be accepted at another club.

The vultures are circling at the Demons. Picture: Tess Gellie/Melbourne FC

And that it was hoped that “Lamby” – presumably list boss Tim Lamb – didn’t muck up the trade deal, either for Petracca or “Nibbler”, which is the nickname for Alex Neal-Bullen, who has requested a trade to Adelaide.

The players, it was noted, also expressed hope the club would come out of this period OK.

This citizen journalism is the latest layer of discontent surrounding Petracca.

The whole situation is weird.

It’s weird for those who have not suffered serious trauma to comprehend Petracca’s emotional state.

It’s also weird that he hasn’t spoken publicly.

It’s weird the “Petracca Brand” is being offered as a reason he wants to play for a bigger club.

It’s weird that nobody at Melbourne can properly explain what is happening, and exactly why the Demons’ Norm Smith medallist wants to break a seven-year contract.

It’s weird trying to determine if Petracca is being selfish and whether his trade request is ripping the club apart or the club has ripped him apart.

The bombshell breakdown between the club and the player not only perplexes the football world, it also paints the football club as a basket case.

It’s bad headline after bad headline.

First, Petracca wants out, then Neal-Bullen wants out, and Kysaiah Pickett tells the club he is homesick, which suggests he’d also be open to a trade.

That’s not the sound of alarm bells ringing at Melbourne, it’s a tornado warning.

Petracca’s future is uncertain. Picture: Tess Gellie/Melbourne FC

Finally, club president Kate Roffey broke her silence, interviewed on SEN on Thursday.

She defended her lack of public utterances, and stressed she had been talking to coterie groups, the leadership group, the coaches, and to parents.

But not to Petracca’s parents more recently, nor to Petracca.

To be fair, it’s believed she had reached out but not gotten a response.

Which made her next comment – “we don’t think it’s a stand-off” Roffey said – plainly ridiculous because while there has been some positive vibes this week, Petracca is yet to tell the club he wants to be there in 2024.

Unbelievably, Roffey said she wasn’t aware of Petracca’s grievances and even alluded to a belief that it was all media-driven. Now that was drivel.

The interview was evasive and lacked authority, and probably did more harm than good at a time when Melbourne supporters were looking for reassuring leadership.

Certainly, the club is buoyed by the fact Petracca joined his teammates for end-of-season drinks at the Terminus Hotel on Wednesday.

The club believes Petracca is warming to addressing the issues he has with the club, because if he didn’t want to and wanted a trade, he wouldn’t have joined his teammates at such a team-bonding environment like the post-season sip.

It shows the connection between the players is not broken.

More cuddles are required, however, because Petracca is still frustrated – and the players, while more understanding of Petracca’s emotional state, are frustrated with him.

To be honest, everyone at Melbourne is frustrated.

The Dees maintain Petracca is going nowhere. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

In her interview, Roffey denied the club was in crisis, a comment that beggars belief.

For two years Melbourne has been neck-deep in controversy. There was the punch-up between Steven May and Jake Melksham. There was Glen Bartlett and his legal stoush, Joel Smith and his cocaine, Clayton Oliver with all his issues and throughout, coach Simon Goodwin has swatted away rumours about himself.

The Petracca bomb topped them all.

Either Melbourne has been terribly unlucky and is being over scrutinised, or something is not right at the footy club. We suspect it’s the latter, although the Demons have made it known there’s been no other issues in-season other than the Petracca situation.

The Demons maintain they won’t trade their prized No. 5, but they also know that total reconciliation can’t occur unless Petracca comes to the table. Not necessary with a peace offering but with a mind to shed the past and forge into the future.

Work needs to be done, and it won’t be easy, and despite all the weirdness, the odds of Petracca playing at Melbourne next year are better than what they were a week ago.