- The Melbourne star was seriously injured on June 10
- Rumours of a break-up between Petracca and Demons stars are circulating
- The recovering midfielder has made a call about his future
Melbourne Demons superstar Christian Petracca has finally addressed rumours circulating about his possible exit from the AFL club, announcing his final decision after weeks of speculation.
The Demons’ striker was left with four broken ribs, a punctured lung and a lacerated spleen when Collingwood’s Darcy Moore accidentally kneed him on June 10.
And he has been maligned ever since, with reports of discord in the Demons ranks and a disgruntled Petracca wanting out despite being under contract until 2029.
He reportedly expressed his desire to leave during his exit interview on Monday, sharing his feelings with some teammates.
Petracca has remained publicly silent on his future until now, with the Demons star releasing a statement declaring he will remain loyal to Melbourne.
“In recent weeks, there has been much speculation about my role at the Melbourne Football Club,” Petracca said in the statement.
‘This occurred as part of the end-of-year review process, where I expressed my concerns as a leader, wanting better for our club, our group of players and our fans.
Christian Petracca was seriously injured playing against Collingwood on June 10.
During his recovery, Petracca was rumoured to be seeking a move away from the Demons, claims he has now denied.
‘During this time, I have been in open communication with the player leadership group and club leaders to ensure we can work together to improve as a club.
‘I make no apologies for wanting to improve our club and contribute to our success both on and off the field.
“I love football. It remains my number one priority and always has been. As for my future at the Melbourne Football Club, I remain committed to playing for the Red and Blue.”
The Demons were at a crossroads, having missed out on the 2024 finals and with Alex Neal-Bullen and potentially Kysaiah Pickett heading out the door.
Melbourne won the championship in 2021 but struggled to secure top-four finishes in 2022 and 2023 before falling out of the top eight entirely this season.
Melbourne Demons chief executive Gary Pert has insisted throughout the ordeal that Petracca would remain at the club.
The loss of Petracca would have been a huge blow for the Demons, with club chief executive Gary Pert also assuring fans that Petracca is not going anywhere.
“As we have said from the outset, Christian is a much-loved member of the Melbourne Football Club and we value him enormously, not just as a player, but as a person and a leader,” Pert said.
‘Over the last month, we have been open about the fact that Christian has shared some ideas on how we can improve and excel as a football club.
‘These conversations have made us a better organization and we are grateful that Christian, like all of our leaders, is willing to have difficult conversations to drive success.
‘We move forward from here, aligned and steadfast in our commitment to achieving the success we know our AFL program is capable of achieving.
“Most importantly, I know that many young Demons who proudly wear the number 5 on their backs will be anxiously counting down the days until we see Christian back on the football field playing the sport he loves.”
