Melbourne’s No. 2 draft pick Christian Petracca tears anterior cruciate ligament at Demons training

MELBOURNE’S No.2 draft pick Christian Petracca wiped out his debut season on Monday as the club’s rotten run with injury continued.

Melbourne Training

MELBOURNE’S No.2 draft pick Christian Petracca yesterday wiped out his debut season as the club’s rotten run with injury continued.

Petracca ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in an innocuous training incident at Gosch’s Paddock and last night started planning his rehabilitation with surgeon Julian Feller at Epworth Hospital.

ANOTHER FOOT INJURY SIDELINES KREUZER

He joins top-20 picks Jesse Hogan, Jimmy Toumpas, Jack Trengove, Luke Tapscott, James Strauss and Sam Blease as Demons to suffer medical problems early in their careers.

The Dees also lost No.1 pick Tom Scully to Greater Western Sydney and had star signing Mitch Clark retire with depression last year.

Demons football manager Josh Mahoney confirmed the explosive midfielder Petracca would have played AFL this year after shedding 3kg and impressing coach Paul Roos on the track.

Mahoney said it was crucial to form a strong support network around the 19-year-old as he turns his focus to 2016.

Christian Petracca marks the ball during pre-season training in December. Picture: Colleen Petch

Mahoney said the timing of Petracca’s surgery would depend on how swelling around the knee settled, but he could go under the knife this week.

“He was leading as a forward, he had a defender right behind him, he just went to change direction and twisted his knee and we got the result we did,” Mahoney told the Herald Sun last night.

“He’s shown some really positive signs. He has great flexibility, he could play in the forward line or through the midfield and has good agility.”

Petracca was assessed by Demons medicos on the boundary and put through some light running tests before being sent for scans, which confirmed their worst fears.

Defender Sam Frost also left the track early with an adductor concern.

Long considered the likely No.1 pick, Petracca joined the Demons with the richest junior football resume from last year’s draft class.

He was All-Australian, won the Larke Medal as the standout talent in the national carnival and slotted 63 goals from 29 TAC Cup games, averaging 129 SuperCoach points.

Highly competitive, Petracca transformed himself from a forward into a dynamite midfielder last year and recruiters believed he was AFL-ready.

He opened an $8 second-favourite for this year’s Rising Star.

Petracca will join Trengove, also a No.2 draft pick, in rehabilitation. The former captain is also unlikely to play this year after aggravating a navicular injury.

Thanks everyone for the messages and I appreciate the support, looking forward to starting rehab n getting back on the track, I'll be back

— christian petracca (@cpetracca7) February 16, 2015

Terrible news for @cpetracca7! Nobody deserves that. Best part - he's a terrific kid who will bounce back. I'll look after him #teamrehab

— Jack Trengove (@jtren9) February 16, 2015

Petracca can lean on exciting forward Hogan for support.

Hogan missed all of last season with stress fractures in his back, but will play NAB Challenge and is on track for Round 1 debut.

“It was really important we got the support around him and we’ll continue to support him through the next 12 months,” Mahoney said.

“He’s a positive character but once he found out the news he was obviously disappointed.”

Melbourne great David Schwarz said the blow was a setback for Petracca’s career.

“I don’t know if Melbourne is cursed but, over the last five years in particular, they have had a tough run,” he told SEN.

Mahoney refused to dwell on the string of long-term injuries to prized talents.

“We’ve had quite a few injuries to our young players and certainly moving forward we hope that’s not the case,” he said.

Petracca received a flood of support on Twitter and tweeted: “Thanks everyone for the messages and I appreciate the support, looking forward to starting rehab n getting back on the track, I’ll be back”.

Melbourne’s hierarchy recently said the Demons plan to play finals for the first time since 2006 next season, which will be Roos’ second last as coach.

Assistant coach Simon Goodwin will take over in 2017.

DEE-PRESSING

Christian Petracca (2014 No.2 draft pick) ACL in first pre-season

Jesse Hogan (2012 No.2 mini-draft pick) Stress fractures in back ruined first season

Jimmy Toumpas (No.4 draft pick in 2012) Suffered hip problems in first season

Mitch Clark (Traded No.12 pick in 2011 for) Battled foot problems and retired with depression

Jack Trengove (No.2 draft pick in 2009) Repeat navicular injuries cruelled 2014-15

Tom Scully (No.1 draft pick in 2009) Walked to GWS after two seasons

Luke Tapscott (No.18 pick in 2009) Slipped on a sprinkler cap in first pre-season and injured hip

James Strauss (No.18 pick in 2008) Broke leg in second season

Sam Blease (No.17 pick in 2008) Broke leg at school in first season

Originally published as Melbourne’s No. 2 draft pick Christian Petracca tears anterior cruciate ligament at Demons training