By Sam McClure
Christian Petracca took aim at the culture of the Melbourne Football Club in a three-hour meeting of the Demons’ on-field leaders on Saturday, venting his disappointment that key people at the club had not supported him enough in the two-week period that followed his life-threatening football injury.
The meeting at a wine bar owned by Melbourne captain Max Gawn – Motor, in Hawthorn – was not arranged specifically because of the furore surrounding Petracca, who has made it clear he wants to be traded to a rival Victorian club despite having five years remaining on his contract, but it provided a forum for the superstar Demon to air his grievances with the club.
Max Gawn and Christian Petracca were involved in a meeting with other leaders of the Demons’ playing group on Saturday.Credit: Artwork: Marija Ercegovac
According to a source with knowledge of the meeting, who would not be identified because it was a private gathering, the meeting ended about 3pm with hugs, handshakes and high-fives, but left those in attendance with little confidence that Petracca will be a Melbourne player in 2025.
Gawn, vice captain Jack Viney, Tom Sparrow and Petracca were at the restaurant. Star defender Jake Lever would have been in attendance but was ill (he missed the round 24 loss to Collingwood the night before due to gastro).
Petracca’s concerns included his belief that Melbourne people did not check in with him enough in the aftermath of his King’s Birthday injury, the pending departure of teammate Alex Neal-Bullen, and previous culture issues.
Three teammates, who have spoken to this masthead on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic, remain concerned that while Petracca’s grievances have now been aired several times to the players, they are not sure how the problems can be fixed.
Max Gawn’s Hawthorn wine bar, Motor, where Petracca’s meeting with teammates took place.
Petracca suggested the pending departure of premiership player Neal-Bullen could have been avoided if the environment was better at the Dees.
However, Neal-Bullen has told the club he would like to return home to South Australia for family reasons.
Saturday’s was one of several meetings that Petracca has had with teammates and club leaders, but they have done little to sway his view that he wants to play for a rival Melbourne powerhouse club in 2025.
The 28-year-old reiterated his position in his exit review meeting on Monday, although he has not formally requested a trade.
Petracca was in immediate pain after the collision in the King’s Birthday clash.Credit: AFL Photos
He has told coach Simon Goodwin and other senior figures that he is frustrated with continuously playing in front of small crowds.
In two of Melbourne’s last three home games, the crowds have been 16,246 (against Greater Western Sydney) and 17,867 (against Port Adelaide).
He has also told them that representing a larger club could increase his brand and marketability. Petracca’s representatives have denied that personal brand issues are having any impact on his decision-making.
Petracca was seriously injured when an accidental knee from Collingwood captain Darcy Moore on King’s Birthday left him with broken ribs, a punctured lung and a lacerated spleen.
The injuries left him fighting for his life, and he has since shared details of the harrowing surgery from which he recovered in the intensive care unit.
“It’s been really, really tough. Probably the most traumatic thing I’ve experienced in my life,” Petracca told The Howie Games podcast released this week.
“The trauma of everything … it’s actually not necessarily the incident of it, it’s the aftermath of it...
“Bella [Petracca’s partner] came to the ICU the next day and basically said that at three in the morning … we got the number off the surgeon because he called to say you might not make it, basically. He’s in critical condition.”
Petracca has said it was his decision to return to the field after he was hurt, and backed his care from the Melbourne doctors. However, according to several teammates, he believes he was not contacted enough in the fortnight following the collision.
Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox, who suffered a similar – albeit nowhere near as serious – spleen injury in the previous season, reached out to offer the name of the specialist he saw during his rehabilitation.
Moore, who is a friend of Petracca’s, also checked in on him.
Goodwin, CEO Gary Pert and football boss Alan Richardson have vehemently defended the club’s culture, privately and publicly.
But Petracca has expressed frustration over previous off-field issues including the club’s handling of Clayton Oliver and the controversy surrounding teammate Joel Smith, who is facing a two-year ban and remains provisionally suspended for testing positive to cocaine after the club’s round 23 match last year against Hawthorn.
However, there are frustrations with Petracca, too.
Several players were disappointed at the level of Petracca’s social media activity while on holiday in Noosa, when the Demons were fighting to stay in finals contention.
Harry McKay is contracted until 2030.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Carlton remain an interested party in the evolving Petracca situation.
Any potential trade involving a contracted Blues player will be put on hold as the team prepares for an elimination final against the Brisbane Lions next Saturday, according to two club sources not prepared to publicly discuss the issue.
But the club has internally raised the significance of Petracca’s availability and is willing to act aggressively to pursue a deal.
Petracca and his management declined to comment.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.