Melbourne has officially announced the re-signing of Christian Petracca until the end of the 2029 season – a seven-year extension.
SEN Chief Reporter Sammy Edmund believes the deal is worth more than $1 million per year, making the 2020 All-Australian one of the game’s highest paid players.
Petracca was originally contracted until the end of 2022 and Kane Cornes wonders why the Demons committed to such a long extension when they had another year up their sleeves.
“He’s 25, he’s done a knee previously, and he’s probably put together two very good seasons and it’s Dustin Martin-ish money,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast.
“But when Dustin Martin signed that deal for seven years, he had already won, or was about to win, a Brownlow, he’d won a Norm Smith Medal and he’d won a couple of best and fairests.
“This is far too big a risk for me. And people will say what are you going to do? Let him walk to another club? Well, no, you don’t have to do anything. He’s contracted until the end of 2022.
“Just keep your powder dry, Melbourne. There is no rush to go and sign Christian Petracca.
“You don’t even need to sign him until this time next year. Wait 12 months, find out how the team is going, are they ultimately successful in winning a premiership this year, where are all the other pieces of the puzzle and other contracts.
“You didn’t need to rush into this deal. Collingwood did similar with Brodie Grundy and others and it ripped the place apart.
“You think at Melbourne, how is their salary cap going? Jake Lever is on massive money, Steven May massive money, Max Gawn big money, Jack Viney big money, Clayton Oliver big money, Christian Salem signed a five-year deal, you’ve got Luke Jackson coming up and Kysaiah Pickett who will need to get paid.
“The ramifications of a deal like this will filter through the rest of the club.
“As good as he is right now, he hasn’t yet reached Dustin Martin or Patrick Dangerfield heights.
“I think it is a mistake to do this, but that is my thoughts and I’m always against long-term deals because they don’t often work in favour of the club.”
Petracca is the current betting favourite after seven rounds for the 2021 Brownlow Medal, equal with Richmond’s Martin.
He is averaging 29 disposals, nine score involvements, seven inside 50s and six clearances per game.
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