Melbourne star Christian Petracca’s season over after King’s Birthday injuries

Christian Petracca will miss the rest of the season as he recovers from the internal injuries he sustained on King’s Birthday in a huge blow to Melbourne’s finals hopes.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIAÉ June 10, 2024. AFL Round 13. Big Freeze at the G. Collingwood vs Melbourne at the MCG. Christian Petracca of the Demons in pain after copping a Darcy Moore knee in the ribs late in the 1st qtr. . Pic: Michael Klein

Melbourne star Christian Petracca will miss the rest of the home-and-away season after suffering significant internal injuries against Collingwood.

Petracca spent time in the Alfred Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit after the collision with Magpies skipper Darcy Moore, having been transferred from the Epworth Hospital.

He suffered a lacerated spleen, punctured lung and four broken ribs.

Doctors provided Petracca an update today as he was moved out of ICU and into a general ward.

Petracca will be unable to return to contact training for a minimum of 12 weeks.

The timeline update would mean he is available to return to contact work in the middle of September, putting a line through his home-and-away season.

There is still hope at the Demons that a late run in finals would see Petracca potentially return to the field in 2024.

The 28 year old is expected to be discharged from hospital by the weekend.

Petracca took to Instagram to confirm he would miss the rest of the 2024 campaign.

“Thankful for all the love and support I’ve received these past few days,” he wrote.

“While my season may have come to an end, I’m grateful I still have the opportunity to give it my all again in 2025.

“In the meantime, I’ll be cheering the boys on from the sidelines and making some tasty meals in the kitchen.”

Petracca was one of Melbourne’s best players before the injury, with eight disposals in the first quarter.

Playing through the midfield and forward line for the Demons, Petracca averaged 23.4 disposals, 4.5 marks, three tackles, 1.1 goals and 1.5 goal assists per game in 2024.

“Christian is in good spirits and making positive strides in his recovery,” Melbourne’s General Manager of Football Performance Alan Richardson said on Wednesday night.

“(He) is expected to be moved out of the ICU and into a general ward by (Thursday) morning, and discharged from hospital in the coming days.”

Christian Petracca on his way to hospital after an accidental knee in the ribs

Christian Petracca went down to the rooms following this contest just before quarter-time.#AFLPiesDeespic.twitter.com/H4ikC5gvzY

— AFL (@AFL) June 10, 2024

Melbourne’s medical department came under fire for allowing Petracca to come back onto the ground in the second quarter, before being substituted out at half time and then taken to hospital before the game finished.

“I want to make it clear that we have full confidence in how our medical team responded and the procedures they followed,” Richardson said.

“Their expertise and swift actions have been crucial in managing Christian’s injury and subsequent recovery.”

Originally published as Melbourne star Christian Petracca’s season over after King’s Birthday injuries