The Petracca Fallout: All the key points and what could happen next

There could yet be fallout from Christian Petracca’s reported disenchantment at Melbourne.

For the moment, however, it seems resolved.

The superstar confirmed over the weekend that he is committed to the Demons for 2025 despite reportedly being unhappy with the club.

According to Channel 9 journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris, the situation remains a 'watch this space', particularly if the Demons don’t have a great 2025 season.

Morris is adamant the reason Petracca stayed put at Melbourne is because he was unable to find a move that worked, despite pushing his management to find a way.

He firmly believes that Petracca, despite being contracted until the end of 2029, would have moved on if a rival club was in a position to pull off a sensational trade.

Read below what Morris had to say on he key points of how it played out and what could happen next.

“If there was a way that Petracca could have got out, he would have explored it,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.

“He actually tried to find a way for several weeks and there was no avenue for him to. His management told him from the very start that it would be almost impossible to orchestrate.

“So Petracca’s view was, ‘we don't know until we try’, and since the manager works with the player, Robbie D’Orazio, he did his best in an impossible market.

“That's how it played out.

“Petracca had several players from rival clubs reach out to him directly two weeks ago after the news broke. He took the calls telling one star opposition player that although he knew it would be hard to get out this year, it might be easier in 12 months’ time.

“So do not discount it in 12 months’ time. I’m not saying it's going to happen, but it's still very much on the radar. Trading draft picks two years in advance next year gives another lever for clubs to pull number four.”

There was reported discontent from the playing group when Petracca holidayed in Noosa in the wake of his season-ending spleen and lung injury.

Morris explained the ins and outs of that saga and how it was misconstrued due to a lack of club communication.

“When Petracca went to Noosa, which was approved by Alan Richardson and Simon Goodwin, teammates were absolutely perplexed,” Morris added.

“They couldn't understand it, they couldn’t understand why he was posting videos, they didn't understand why he wasn't at the club.

“Once he told them they understood, but the club didn't tell them because Petracca’s mental health struggles were his to tell, not Alan Richardson's or Simon Goodman's or any other official, hence the impasse.

“So yesterday, Steve May and Jake lever spoke at this panel event in Ringwood and they both lamented the club's communication in this situation.

“So you can see how players can be frustrated with Petracca.”

Morris also touched on Petracca being serious about his brand, though it wasn't why he wished to move, while insisting that the 2021 Norm Smith Medallist does not want to waste another season with the underperforming Dees.

“I think this is really important - ‘Brand Petracca’ is a thing, just as it is for any other superstar player,” he continued.

“But despite Melbourne believing it was a reason for him wanting out, I don't actually believe it was. It was a convenient excuse for the Demons to throw shade at Petracca instead of looking at themselves.

“Every great player has a brand, we know that, but him wanting to move from Melbourne to Collingwood wasn't about his brand. It was about the club that he was at, it was about the Demons

“It was absolutely Melbourne's perspective that ‘Brand Petracca’ was a reason for him wanting to go, that's true, but I don't believe it actually was a reason for him.

“Overall, Christian Petracca desperately wants culture change and success, I think that's pretty clear.

“Leaders come around to many of his views as well. Max Gawn and him have had a number of very strong conversations.

“Petracca wasn't going to sit by and watch another year go to waste. He was prepared to go, if not, then he's prepared to enact serious change.

“I believe this will enact serious change as well off the field.”

So, what is Petracca’s utopia in all of this?

“I think he wants the club and people within the club to be as highly professional and highly driven and ambitious in the same way that he is to be successful again,” Morrisa said further.

“I don't think he thinks the club has been as aligned as what they have publicly stated they've been.”

As for his relationship with fellow gun midfielder Clayton Oliver, Morris does not believe that to be a major problem, but in fact it has been the club’s management of the four-time best and fairest that has drawn ire.

“They know each other really well, but Petracca’s issue wasn't with Oliver.

“It was with the way the club handled Oliver for a long period of time and the communication around that.

“People like to say, ‘Oh, Petracca wants out because he doesn't like the coach or he doesn't like Oliver’.

“That's wrong and that's far too simplistic.”

In conclusion, Morris believes it will all work itself out in time.

“Given now that Gawn, Lever, May and these guys are back on the same page, by and large, I think it will heal itself,” he said.

“But you wouldn't want to have a poor 2025 if you’re the Melbourne Football Club.

“You wouldn't want Simon Goodwin or any other assistant coach or the CEO or the president to not be aligned with where the rest of the club is.”