Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca has revealed how he shed his “cool guy” attitude to become one of the best midfielders in the AFL.
The 25-year-old played a huge hand in the Demons’ premiership success in September, winning the Norm Smith Medal for his game-breaking performance.
However it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the former top two selection.
Drafted at the end of 2014, Petracca ruptured an ACL in his first pre-season at the club to miss the entire 2015 campaign.
He copped the wrath of then-coach Paul Roos after breaking a toe when trying to dunk a basketball during the Christmas break later that year.
Having initially struggled to build the fitness to play as an out-and-out midfielder and show more than just glimpses, Petracca’s past two seasons have shown the Demons picked the right man in the 2014 AFL National Draft.
He says he’s always had confidence in his ability but reached a point in his career when “boys become men.”
“I’ve always had confidence in my ability and the way I play, the talent’s always been there, it’s just marrying that up with understanding the professionalism and what’s required for me to become a great player,” he told SEN’s Jack and Painey.
“I’ve always had confidence in myself ever since I first started playing footy, but I think there comes a time with a lot of players where maturity starts to set in and the penny starts to drop.
“I was 24 last year and that’s an age where boys become men and you start to realise what you want to play footy for and your purpose.”
He added that the Demons’ off-field development of their players helped him to shed the “cool guy” personality and become the star he is today.
“I was just super grateful to become a better person off-field, I think the off-field balance really helps me on-field, I see footy a bit differently and I love it a lot more,” Petracca said.
“I probably went through a phase where I was trying to be that cool guy that didn’t really like footy and I had bigger things to worry about.
“But I absolutely love it and I love being a part of the Melbourne footy club and they’ve helped me develop as a person more off the field than on the field and that’s only helped me develop as a player.”
Petracca averaged 29 disposals, seven inside 50s and six clearances throughout the 2021 season.