By Sam McClure
Contracted Carlton key forward Harry McKay has emerged as the key to unlocking a potential trade of Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca, who has reminded the club and teammates of his desire to leave the Demons.
The Norm Smith medallist reiterated to his teammates on Saturday night, and the club during his exit interview on Monday, that he wants to play for a rival Victorian club in 2025, despite public guarantees from Melbourne’s CEO, coach and football boss that Petracca would not be traded under any circumstances.
Christian Petracca after the 2021 grand final with his Norm Smith and premiership medals.Credit: Getty Images
Three club sources and two sources close to Petracca, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, told this masthead that his falling-out with the club appeared to be beyond repair.
The same sources said Petracca was unlikely to formally request a trade because of the difficulty of a deal getting done, and because a public request would further inflame his relationship with the Demons.
A separate industry figure familiar with the situation indicated that McKay, as a goalkicking forward at a marquee Victorian club, was one of the few players who could entice Melbourne into relinquishing Petracca as part of a trade.
Everyone involved acknowledges the chance of a trade are remote given both players are on multimillion-dollar long-term deals, and it will be difficult to prise McKay away from the Blues.
Three sources who were at Melbourne’s end-of-season function on Saturday night said there was tension surrounding Petracca’s presence and that it was noticeably uncomfortable between him and several teammates.
Eyebrows were also raised internally at Melbourne when Petracca pulled out of an interview on Friday night with host broadcaster Seven.
The club originally locked in Petracca for the interview, but Petracca, himself, pulled out at the last moment, after Seven’s chief football reporter, Mitch Cleary, had already promoted the interview on social media platform X.
Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson told 3AW on Friday that there was a “miscommunication” over Petracca’s interview.
He was also forthright in stating that Petracca would stay in red and blue.
“No, we’re not going to trade Christian,” Richardson said.
“He’s a fantastic player, a fantastic Melbourne person. We acknowledge that it’s been a really tough time for him but our footy club has been built around some really important signings.
Harry McKay is contracted until 2030.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“He’s a very important cog in what we’re trying to do.”
Carlton, who have shown strong interest in the situation, have emerged as the leading contender for Petracca, but there are only two players that would appease Melbourne in any form of trade: Charlie Curnow and McKay.
Curnow — who shares the same manager as Petracca, Robbie D’Orazio — will not be traded.
McKay signed a seven-year contract extension less than two years ago when he knocked back free agency to extend his tenure at Ikon Park until the end of 2030.
His deal was signed almost exactly a year after Petracca signed a similar deal with Melbourne to keep him at the Demons until the end of 2029.
McKay, a 204-centimetre key forward, is 26, an All-Australian, a Coleman medallist and a three-time leading goal kicker at the Blues.
Petracca is 28, a four time All-Australian, a two time best-and-fairest winner, Norm Smith medallist and a premiership player.
Any potential trade is far from being determined. Indeed, it remains unlikely at this stage as Carlton have not even raised the prospect with McKay.
The Blues declined to comment.
“I haven’t heard from Carlton, and Harry is very happy there,” McKay’s manager, Dave Trotter, told this masthead when contacted about a potential trade.
Petracca’s management declined to comment, and this masthead contacted Petracca directly for comment.
The Blues have been in this situation before.
When Brownlow medallist Chris Judd informed the football world that he was leaving West Coast and wanted to be traded to Carlton in 2007, the Blues had to convince young forward Josh Kennedy to go the other way to the Eagles.
Kennedy, then 20, initially objected but eventually agreed to the deal.
He went on to kick 712 goals for the Eagles.
Petracca’s issues with Melbourne stem from long before he suffered an agonising and life-threatening injury in a collision with Collingwood captain Darcy Moore in the King’s Birthday game.
He became frustrated during the 2023 season when he believed the club had failed to act strongly enough in its dealings with fellow superstar Clayton Oliver, who was enduring several off-field issues.
Petracca has also told the club, on more than one occasion, that he wants to play more consistently in front of larger crowds.
Melbourne were contacted for comment.
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