Melbourne has insisted Christian Petracca will not be traded as a much-loved “key pillar of the club’s future” in a letter to fans.
It comes in response to a report from Channel 9’s Tom Morris that Petracca, with a contract until 2029, was so ‘disillusioned’ with the Demons’ direction that, when his contract expires, the star midfielder would ‘probably leave tomorrow for a would ask for an exchange’. .”
However, club CEO Gary Pert has taken action to “provide clarity” around Petracca and ensure the 28-year-old remains at the Demons.
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“Christian is an integral and much-loved member of the Melbourne Football Club. He is an important pillar of the future of our club and we value him enormously, not only as a player, but also as a person and as a leader,” Pert said in the letter on Tuesday afternoon.
“He has been a key member of our football program since joining us in 2014 and is under contract until the end of the 2029 season. He will remain in the red and blue at least until the end of his contract, and hopefully afterwards.”
The statement made no comment from Petracca, nor any mention of 2021 premiership player and medalist Norm Smith’s dissatisfaction.
It follows reports earlier this year of the Petracca family’s disappointment over Melbourne’s handling of his serious season-ending spleen injury that left him in hospital.
Pert said Petracca’s “health and wellbeing remains the club’s priority” and that people in Melbourne were “excited” to see him back at the club last week after spending time in Noosa.
After a “disappointing” season that saw Melbourne drop from the top four to 13th, the club says it has already started work behind the scenes on how to improve its 2025 programme, including initiating discussions with a cross-section of players, coaches and staff.
“The 2024 season has been disappointing for all of us and we must quickly turn our attention to what it takes to move forward, both on and off the pitch, to ensure we climb back up the ladder,” he said.
“An important part of this process is openly discussing all the opportunities we see and where we can make improvements. Over the past few weeks, there have been conversations with many of our leaders, including Christian, about our growth opportunities. These conversations have been open and constructive, with the aim of ensuring that together we achieve the success that our AFL program is capable of.
“These types of conversations are a regular feature of footy and will continue in the coming weeks as we chart a clear path to ensuring our AFL program is back in the finals in 2025.
“Importantly, this process starts now, and Goody, Max and the entire football program look forward to finishing the season strong and playing a brand of football that you, our members, can be proud of over the next two weeks.”
Demons adamant Petracca remains true | 00:41
Demons legend Garry Lyon said Monday night that he wasn’t bothered by the trade report but wanted to hear it from Petracca.
“I need to hear that from Christian, as much as I appreciate Tom,” he said on Fox Footy’s On the couch.
‘It doesn’t bother me until I hear it from Christian. I’m not going to be bothered if some news breaker tells me that.
“If I can look at Christian Petracca and say, ‘You signed a seven-year contract for $1.2 million, they took you to the promised land, they trapped you for life and now you want out? ‘ Then I would have problems.
“Until I hear it from him, I’ll just take it as it is.”
