AFLPA boss steps in to review Christian Petracca injury saga

Christian Petracca’s family will reportedly “never forgive” Melbourne as a fresh investigation looms over his serious injuries.

Christian Petracca’s family will reportedly “never forgive” Melbourne for its handling of the superstar’s serious internal injuries, with AFL players’ association boss Paul Marsh stepping in to review the matter three months on.

Petracca was hospitalised in critical condition with life-threatening injuries sustained in the King’s Birthday match he described as “the most traumatic experience” of his life despite returning to the June game against Collingwood at the MCG.

Watch the best coverage of the 2024 AFL finals, with expert analysis and every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

The fallout was significant including Petracca’s family reportedly being left disenchanted as well as it being among several reasons why the Demons gun pursued a trade from the club.

Melbourne was cleared of any wrongdoing, while the AFL was satisfied with the process. The Herald Sun reports the Demons’ treatment of Petracca was also approved by the AFL and AFL Doctors’ Association.

But veteran journalist Caroline Wilson reports AFLPA CEO Marsh, who’d been on leave for the last three months, has conducted his own probe into the mismanagement of Petracca, claiming the findings could be damning.

Christian Petracca leaving the field injured. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“Paul Marsh has started to talk to various parties involved including Christian Petracca about what happened on that fateful day,” Wilson said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Monday night.

“This could get very embarrassing for the Melbourne Football Club. It could get very embarrassing for the AFL, who through their chief medical officer and general counsel Stephen Meade, cleared Melbourne and did not send them a ‘please explain’ for any negligence or wrong doing.

“The AFL is satisfied everything was done right, but there is no doubt that terrible stories are still emerging about what happened.”

Petracca underwent surgery without an anaesthetic due to the seriousness of the injury to repair four broken ribs, lacerations to the spleen and a punctured lung and spent time in the ICU.

The 28-year old needed to wait for a third ambulance to arrive at the ground to transport him to hospital despite having two ambulances on standby, which are required for the public with crowds of over 60,000.

Christian Petracca on his way to hospital after the knee to the ribs.

While that process was ticked off, several other aspects of the management of the injury are being looked into three months on.

“Miscommunication between the various health transport services involved on the day, the length of time it took for the Demons to call an ambulance, the misdiagnosis of Christian Petracca’s injury,” Wilson explained.

“The fact that he was taken to the Epworth Hospital and waited there for hours, before being taken to the Alfred (Hospital), where he finally had surgery and was unable to have a general anaesthetic, because of the seriousness of the situation.

“Marsh is really concerned, not only for Christian, but for all players and the state of the game, that this was allowed to happen. I think this story is about to get uglier when we find out more details.”

Petracca was spotted at the Demons’ AFLW game on the weekend, having recently recommitted to the club ahead of an external review led by former All Blacks manager Darren Shand.

Christian Petracca and Tayla Harris watch on during the round two AFLW match between the Demons and Lions. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

However Wilson revealed there’s still a level of disgruntlement from the Petracca family behind the scenes.

“He is staying at the Melbourne Football Club for now. But this is not over, the family has not forgiven. I don’t think they’ll ever forgive for what happened to their son that day,” she said.

“I’m not accusing the Melbourne doctor of negligence or any wrongdoing, but mistakes were made and I’m not just talking about the Melbourne doctor.

“I’m not sure exactly what happened, but the story Christian is telling the PA I don’t think is pretty.”

Petracca is contracted at the Dees until 2029 on a lucrative seven-year deal signed in 2021.

It comes after Kate Roffey stepped down as Melbourne president and left the club board, with Brad Green stepping into the role.

Demons 200-gamer and former Melbourne Cricket Club president Steven Smith, who was seen as a candidate to become Melbourne’s next president, has reportedly told the club he won’t nominate to join the board under its looming refresh.

Foxfooty.com.au has contacted Melbourne and the AFLPA.

Originally published as AFLPA boss steps in to review Christian Petracca injury saga