Melbourne has insisted Christian Petracca won’t be traded in a letter to fans as a much-loved “key pillar of the club’s future.”
It comes in response to a report from Channel 9’s Tom Morris that Petracca, contracted until 2029, was “disillusioned” with the Demons’ direction to the point that, if he were out contract, the star midfielder “would likely ask for a trade tomorrow.”
However club CEO Gary Pert has moved to “provide clarity” around Petracca and ensure the 28-year old will remain at the Demons.
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“Christian is an integral and much-loved member of the Melbourne Football Club. He is a key pillar of our club’s future, and we value him immensely, not only as a player, but as a person and a leader,” Pert said in the letter on Tuesday afternoon.
“He has been an important member of our football program since he walked through the doors in 2014 and is contracted until the end of the 2029 season. He will remain in the red and blue until at least the end of his contract and hopefully beyond.”
The statement didn’t include any comments from Petracca nor any mention of the 2021 premiership player and Norm Smith medalist’s disgruntlement.
It follows reports earlier this year on disenchantment from the Petracca family regarding the way Melbourne handled his serious season-ending spleen injury that left him hospitalised.
Pert said Petracca’s “health and wellbeing remain the club’s priority” and that Melbourne people were “thrilled” to see him back at the club last week following spending time away in Noosa.
Following a “disappointing” season that’s seen Melbourne slide from the top four to 13th, the club says it’s already begun work behind the scenes on how it can improve its program for 2025 including initiating discussions with a cross section of players, coaches and staff.
“The 2024 season has been disappointing for us all and we must quickly turn our attention to what is required moving forward, both on and off the field, to ensure we climb back up the ladder,” he said.
“A key part of this process is openly discussing any opportunities we identify where we can seek to improve. Over recent weeks there have been conversations with many of our leaders, Christian included, about our opportunities for growth. These conversations have been open and constructive, with the purpose of ensuring that together we achieve the success we know our AFL program is capable of.
“Conversations like these are a regular part of footy and will continue over the next few weeks, as we map out a clear path towards ensuring our AFL program is back in finals contention in 2025.
“Importantly, this process starts now, and Goody, Max and the entire football program look forward to finishing the season strongly and playing a brand of footy that makes you, our members, proud over the coming two weeks.”
Demons adamant Petracca is staying put | 00:41
Demons legend Garry Lyon on Monday night said he wasn’t bothered by the trade report, but that he wanted to hear from Petracca.
“I need to hear that from Christian, as much as I rate Tom,” he said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“I’m not troubled by it until I hear it from Christian, I’m not going to be troubled by a news-breaker telling me that.
“If I can eyeball Christian Petracca and say: ‘You signed a seven-year deal for $1.2 million, they’ve taken you to the promise land, they’ve set you up for life and now you want to get out?’ Then I’d be troubled.
“Until I hear it from him, I’ll just take it as it is.”
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