Christian Petracca

[beelzebub 23,377]

6 minutes ago, adonski said:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/petracca-airs-grievances-in-private-meeting-of-dees-leaders-20240828-p5k60z.html

Petracca’s concerns included his belief that Melbourne people did not check in with him enough in the aftermath of his King’s Birthday injury, the pending departure of teammate Alex Neal-Bullen, and previous culture issues.

Three teammates, who have spoken to this masthead on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic, remain concerned that while Petracca’s grievances have now been aired several times to the players, they are not sure how the problems can be fixed.

The pending departure of another premiership player, Neal-Bullen, was another talking point, with Petracca suggesting this could have been avoided if the environment was better at the Dees.

However, Neal-Bullen has told the club he would like to return home to South Australia for family reasons.

Saturday’s was one of several meetings that Petracca has had with teammates and leaders, but they have done little to sway his view that he wants to play for a rival Melbourne powerhouse club in 2025.

The 28-year-old reiterated his position in his exit review meeting on Monday, although he has not formally requested a trade.

He has told coach Simon Goodwin and other senior figures that he is frustrated with continuously playing in front of small crowds.

In two of Melbourne’s last three home games, the crowds have been 16,246 (against Greater Western Sydney) and 17,867 (against Port Adelaide).

He has also told them that representing a larger club could increase his brand and marketability. Petracca’s representatives have denied that personal brand issues are having any impact on his decision-making.

Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox, who suffered a similar – albeit nowhere near as serious – spleen injury in the previous season, reached out to offer the name of the specialist he saw during his rehabilitation.

Moore, who is a friend of Petracca’s, also checked in on him.

However, there are frustrations with Petracca, too.

Several players were disappointed at the level of Petracca’s social media activity while on holiday in Noosa, when the Demons were fighting to stay in finals contention.

Carlton remain an interested party in the evolving Petracca situation.

Any potential trade involving a contracted Blues player will be put on hold as the team prepares for an elimination final against the Brisbane Lions next Saturday, according to two club sources not prepared to publicly discuss the issue.

But the club has internally raised the significance of Petracca’s availability and is willing to act aggressively to pursue a deal.

Petracca and his management declined to comment.

 

[Disco InTurno 86]

7 minutes ago, adonski said:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/petracca-airs-grievances-in-private-meeting-of-dees-leaders-20240828-p5k60z.html

Petracca’s concerns included his belief that Melbourne people did not check in with him enough in the aftermath of his King’s Birthday injury, the pending departure of teammate Alex Neal-Bullen, and previous culture issues.

Three teammates, who have spoken to this masthead on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic, remain concerned that while Petracca’s grievances have now been aired several times to the players, they are not sure how the problems can be fixed.

The pending departure of another premiership player, Neal-Bullen, was another talking point, with Petracca suggesting this could have been avoided if the environment was better at the Dees.

However, Neal-Bullen has told the club he would like to return home to South Australia for family reasons.

Saturday’s was one of several meetings that Petracca has had with teammates and leaders, but they have done little to sway his view that he wants to play for a rival Melbourne powerhouse club in 2025.

The 28-year-old reiterated his position in his exit review meeting on Monday, although he has not formally requested a trade.

He has told coach Simon Goodwin and other senior figures that he is frustrated with continuously playing in front of small crowds.

In two of Melbourne’s last three home games, the crowds have been 16,246 (against Greater Western Sydney) and 17,867 (against Port Adelaide).

He has also told them that representing a larger club could increase his brand and marketability. Petracca’s representatives have denied that personal brand issues are having any impact on his decision-making.

Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox, who suffered a similar – albeit nowhere near as serious – spleen injury in the previous season, reached out to offer the name of the specialist he saw during his rehabilitation.

Moore, who is a friend of Petracca’s, also checked in on him.

However, there are frustrations with Petracca, too.

Several players were disappointed at the level of Petracca’s social media activity while on holiday in Noosa, when the Demons were fighting to stay in finals contention.

Carlton remain an interested party in the evolving Petracca situation.

Any potential trade involving a contracted Blues player will be put on hold as the team prepares for an elimination final against the Brisbane Lions next Saturday, according to two club sources not prepared to publicly discuss the issue.

But the club has internally raised the significance of Petracca’s availability and is willing to act aggressively to pursue a deal.

Petracca and his management declined to comment.

This wreaks of an attempt by his camp to shift the media narrative back to being sympathetic to Trac and making the club the problem and away from the absurdity and selfishness of wanting to move clubs to grow your “brand.” 

[Clintosaurus 7,849]

13 minutes ago, Mickey said:

Petracca’s concerns included his belief that Melbourne people did not check in with him enough in the aftermath of his King’s Birthday injury, the pending departure of teammate Alex Neal-Bullen, and previous culture issues.

This interests me. What is not enough? Say if the club was asked to give Christian space for say the first few days or a week. No doubt he got messages, voicemails etc. Given he was in isolation, maybe everyone respected this. 

None of any of it makes sense.

[BW511 2,669]

The ironic thing is Clarry was immature, did dumb things and let his off field spiral away from him, yet the club wanted to help him because he’s probably not a bad kid deep down.

Trac gets hurt, the club does enough but ultimately, the world goes on and particularly in professional sport where there’s a game to worry about within a week. Trac doesn’t like it and starts acting immaturely and everyone is put off because he’s maybe not such a good guy deep down and people have had enough

Edited August 28 by BW511

[Billy 2,530]

8 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

This is an out and out fabrication, or Trac has absolutely no idea why Nibbler is leaving. 
What’s next? Gus wouldn’t have been medically retired if our culture was better? 

Totally agree, ANB said how much he loves the club & if he could pick up & take the footy club with him he would.

So either Nibbles is lying or Petracca is, l know who l believe 

[Clintosaurus 7,849]

5 minutes ago, BDA said:

Why does our playing group leak like a sieve? It's a very poor look for all concerned that details of private meetings make there way into the press like this. 

It was at a restaurant. Could have been anyone 

[OhMyDees 1,834]

Why is the clubs sole fault for not checking in? He asked to have time away from footy fair enough but he can’t have it both ways. 

If he was upset about not being contacted enough by the club - surely he could have raised this at the time and have it addressed. 

[BDA 22,755]

Just now, Clintosaurus said:

It was at a restaurant. Could have been anyone 

The article said 3 players. 

[bing181 9,240]

1 minute ago, Jaded No More said:

This is an out and out fabrication, or Trac has absolutely no idea why Nibbler is leaving. 
What’s next? Gus wouldn’t have been medically retired if our culture was better? 

He's not in a good place our Trac. Though that's been fairly obvious from when this first broke.

Unfortunately, when people are like this - for whatever reason and including reasons that might be beyond their control - it can be very very difficult to find a way through/out. And that this has become so massive publicly only makes it moreso. Not only has he created an unnecessary situation, he's left himself no wriggle room and no way to pull back from the precipice without losing face.

[adonski 12,159]

The most shocking thing about this is that Sparrow gets included in these meetings!

[layzie 33,811]

Meeting in a popular public location like Max's wine bar seems like a great idea after all the press this has been getting lately.

This could be a work.

[Clintosaurus 7,849]

1 minute ago, BDA said:

The article said 3 players. 

I don't think that refers to the meeting on Saturday, but that the grievances have been mentioned several times.

[Ugottobekidding 1,187]

I still believe the wrong spices ended up in his Nonna's meatballs and she went a bit crazy for a wee moment.

Edited August 28 by Ugottobekidding

[chookrat 4,250]

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

I would be pretty certain that the club didn't leak information from his exit meeting. Join the dots.

The reporters made it up to see if they get a bite?

[dees189227 12,394]

So apparently trac is due to be at a father's day event on Sunday at the ringwood rsl. 

You can ask questions. Everyone should just but a ticket & bombard him with questions.  

Shall be interesting if it still goes ahead.

[Wrecker46 2,985]

36 minutes ago, Mickey said:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/petracca-airs-grievances-in-private-meeting-of-dees-leaders-20240828-p5k60z.html

 

Petracca’s concerns included his belief that Melbourne people did not check in with him enough in the aftermath of his King’s Birthday injury, the pending departure of teammate Alex Neal-Bullen, and previous culture issues.

 

Strange a leader wants to leave for culture issues when he should be driving the culture.

Stranger if its previous culture issues like before he signed a long term contract.

I'm not buying the BS.

[spirit of norm smith 16,461]

CollingwoodFC  has firmed as Petracca's preferred landing spot. The challenge now falls on the Pies to facilitate a deal with minimal trade capital. It will seek out potential other clubs to trade and see how they can get value for Noble and others such as Elliott.  

[Fanatique Demon 2,646]

CP5 has lost me now.

Let’s get the best deal we can, show him up when we play his new team, have Clarry win a Brownlow, win the 2025 flag, and Max the Norm Smith. 

 

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

27 minutes ago, BDA said:

Why does our playing group leak like a sieve? It's a very poor look for all concerned that details of private meetings make there way into the press like this. 

They are just returning serve. Which I think is fair game. We are being absolutely slaughtered in the media with Tracs camp leaking a load of [censored] making us look worse than we are. Why can’t we defend ourselves?

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

13 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

So apparently trac is due to be at a father's day event on Sunday at the ringwood rsl. 

You can ask questions. Everyone should just but a ticket & bombard him with questions.  

Shall be interesting if it still goes ahead.

Better yet, no one show up. 

[The Taciturn Demon 494]

13 minutes ago, adonski said:

He has told coach Simon Goodwin and other senior figures that he is frustrated with continuously playing in front of small crowds.

I genuinely don't get this.

Even if you put aside the fact this is such a weird and self-aggrandising thing for a non-American sportsperson to concentrate on, does it even bear weight? 

In 2022 there was only one team that got higher home crowds than Melbourne in the home and away season. In the finals we played two interstate teams and averaged 70,000. In 2023 we were comfortably in the top four for home crowds and all crowds during the home and away season. Our two finals both had crowds well over 90,000.  

In 2018, our crowd numbers were strong, as well, in the home and away season and in finals. 

This year, our crowds fell away very badly... after the King's Birthday... when Petracca wasn't playing. 

Is this literally just a desire to play for Collingwood, which has had very good crowds for 30-odd years, or is he unaware that every other club's crowds wax and wane depending on how they're going? 

[Skuit 10,031]

29 minutes ago, adonski said:

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/petracca-airs-grievances-in-private-meeting-of-dees-leaders-20240828-p5k60z.html

He has told coach Simon Goodwin and other senior figures that he is frustrated with continuously playing in front of small crowds.

In two of Melbourne’s last three home games, the crowds have been 16,246 (against Greater Western Sydney) and 17,867 (against Port Adelaide).

 

Wait up. I don't recall Trac playing in either of those examples. Prior to our fade-out this year, we've been in the top four for average attendance over the past four years. 

[ChaserJ 5,096]

20 minutes ago, adonski said:

The most shocking thing about this is that Sparrow gets included in these meetings!

He won the James McDonald trophy last year at the b&f didn’t he? 

Club obviously rates his leadership attributes.

[adonski 12,159]

2 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Wait up. I don't recall Trac playing in either of those examples. Prior to our fade-out this year, we've been in the top four for average attendance over the past four years. 

Yeah it's a [censored] excuse

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,248]

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

Waaaaait, A filth supporter can do Maths??? 

I fink you mean maffs ....