Christian Petracca

[Watson11 2,203]

There are 2 takeaways from the Tracc debacle for me.

The first is that Tracc’s reputation has been smashed.  The second is that our club has at least 1 and probably more people that are totally happy to relay private conversations to the media.

It seems to be generally accepted that Tracc or those close to him leaked the initial story to Tom Morris.  Skuit stated “Things are said along these lines to people within his circle, which then filters into the media”

How does anyone know that? It’s taken as fact but totally unsubstantiated.  What about the leak of ANBs trade request.  Or Kozzies?  I listened to Barrett yesterday and he ranted about Brand Petracca wanting to go to a big club and going rogue etc.  When challenged as to how he knew that, he said because that’s what Petracca said.  When challenged further Tracc hadn’t spoken to Barrett and it was clarified that Tracc told people inside Melbourne who told Barrett. Who knows whether that message was skewed to try and make it look like Tracc was the problem. It’s also reported by the media that Tracc was telling MFC players Tracc is unhappy with the leadership, and telling the leadership he was unhappy with the players. I’m not sure about journo’s, but if an untrustworthy rat(s) is telling me about confidential conversations,  I wouldn’t trust them.  I would want to check with the original source.  But it seems journos don’t do that.  They trust the snakes that leak confidential stuff out.  And once every 20 years someone takes legal action against them and it costs the newspaper dollars.  But they don’t care because of all the other 1000 “stories” they source from dishonest people that create clicks and make money.

But everyone knows that’s how the media work.  So as a club, control what you can control and don’t talk to the media, and if stuff leaks take action so you get to a position where the club doesn’t leak. Remember when we never leaked.  It wasn’t that long ago.

Tracc, ANB, Kozzie’s confidential conversations have all been leaked and surely it’s not too hard to identify who by.  Their exit interviews were not public events. Tracc’s stuff all broke when he came back to the club after his break. 

We have big issues to sort out urgently starting with who in the club are breaching their employment contracts by leaking confidential information to the media, contributing to dividing the players and damaging the club.  This would be a start in uniting the players again.

I’m probably one of the few supporters whose opinion of Tracc hasn’t been tarnished by this entire episode.  My opinion of him has gone up.  

[binman 41,923]

14 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Serious? He was looking for an out. 100% can guarantee you that. 

Yes I agree, which is why i said it could all be boiled down to:

'Star player unhappy with how injury managed and concerned premiership wondow is shut wants to get to a more successful Victorian club.'

But what i should have said was

Star player unhappy with how injury managed and concerned premiership wondow is shut wants to get to a more successful Victorian club, but can't because there's no suitors

Edited September 1 by binman

[The Taciturn Demon 347]

49 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

My opinion of him has gone up

How come?

[Demonland 70,235]

 

[titan_uranus 24,559]

Haven't seen much discussion on this article from last night from Peter Ryan.

"Melbourne star Christian Petracca consulted trusted confidants both inside and outside the club – including teammates – last week before choosing to put an end to trade speculation...

After those discussions with trusted parties, Petracca was satisfied enough that broad issues would be addressed to commit to rolling up his sleeves and contribute to finding solutions for Melbourne to end the external discussion. It’s not clear if any commitments were made to Petracca...

Petracca – with some justification according to those close to him – wants to move forward, using the off-season to wind down to recuperate from the serious injuries he suffered on King’s Birthday and let the club get on with the job after a gruelling week that included the prospect of a trade being raised"

[dimmy 1,281]

I think that Goodwin arrives at a Press Conference, politely asks Messrs Morris, Cornes, Lloyd, McLure to politely remove themselves from the room so the conference can then proceed.

[Webber 10,433]

7 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Oh good, another piece of quality, integrity loaded journalism from Tom Morris. 
 

(I won’t be listening). 

[Demonland 70,235]

 

[Dr. Gonzo 23,682]

2 hours ago, waynewussell said:

I continue to encourage every supporter to watch “A sit down with Christian Petracca”, an interview posted on the official MFC site three weeks after Tracc got injured. Overlooked by mainstream media because it doesn’t fit their preferred narrative!

If his feelings have changed since that interview it is really irrelevant what he said 2 months ago.

Edited September 1 by Dr. Gonzo

[waynewussell 4,854]

[KozzyCan 335]

17 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Club really needs to sort out these leaks.

Talk a big game about avoiding media circuses but gone to war in the press with our most decorated players two years running.

[Watson11 2,203]

26 minutes ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

How come?

Because my belief is he raised serious issues in the club confidentially, issues that need to be addressed, and the initial leaks more than likely came from the club, just like the ANB leaks, Kozzie leaks, and several leaks related to Tracc.  It’s a long piece of string for Tracc to state to insiders that he is unhappy and if he didn’t have a contract he would leave, to what ended up playing out in the media. 

[waynewussell 4,854]

2 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

If his feelings have changed since that interview it is really irrelavtnwhat be said 2 months ago.

It's about his appreciation for the support he received from the Club. It's recorded three weeks after his injury and very soon after he exited ICU. It will still be relevant ten years from now! It's a crystal-clear record of how he felt at the time. Remember, this is the exact time that the negative mainstream media built their case about his supposed disgruntlement! 

[reynolds46 1,048]

6 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Unfortunately there appears no end in sight for the embarrassing concept of talentless football journalists like Barret et al appearing in the media spouting opinions. They are not media stars or personalities but somehow have sucked the industry in to allow themselves to be portrayed that way. It is a sad indictment on what is generally accepted as media/entertainment. 

 

[Dr. Gonzo 23,682]

24 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

The most perplexing thing for me in all this is the whole "players couldn't understand why Petracca was in Noosa posting Instagram vids" - if they couldn't figure this out for themselves and had to rely on communication from the club to explain it I really worry about the IQ/EI of our players. I'm also worried about which players it was who were questioning it, is was it from our leadership group/senior players?

[Dr. Gonzo 23,682]

6 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

It's about his appreciation for the support he received from the Club. It's recorded three weeks after his injury and very soon after he exited ICU. It will still be relevant ten years from now! It's a crystal-clear record of how he felt at the time. Remember, this is the exact time that the negative mainstream media built their case about his supposed disgruntlement! 

Yes but if he has had further time to reflect he may have changed his opinion since then. I can understand how someone who suffered a traumatic injury may be in that thankful/lovey dovey mindset shortly after but then change their tune down the track once they've had more time to process and dwell on things. I'm not saying it's the reality but it may be his perception.

[Webber 10,433]

2 minutes ago, reynolds46 said:

Unfortunately there appears no end in sight for the embarrassing concept of talentless football journalists like Barret et al appearing in the media spouting opinions. They are not media stars or personalities but somehow have sucked the industry in to allow themselves to be portrayed that way. It is a sad indictment on what is generally accepted as media/entertainment. 

 

Agree, and that they assume a position as legitimate journalists is arguably worse

[Lord Neville X Flash 236]

16 minutes ago, KozzyCan said:

Club really needs to sort out these leaks.

Talk a big game about avoiding media circuses but gone to war in the press with our most decorated players two years running.

Stop buying the media crisis narratives. They were wrong and are now clutching at straws to save face

The fact TM is saying Melbourne were the ones pushing the "brand petracca" narrative is evidence of this - the media, Barrett in particular, pushed this with zero evidence

[Watson11 2,203]

17 minutes ago, waynewussell said:

It's about his appreciation for the support he received from the Club. It's recorded three weeks after his injury and very soon after he exited ICU. It will still be relevant ten years from now! It's a crystal-clear record of how he felt at the time. Remember, this is the exact time that the negative mainstream media built their case about his supposed disgruntlement! 

He did an interview on AFL360 a couple of nights before that piece when he broke down on national TV when discussing the effect his injury had on his partner and family. He was clearly traumatised.  And I don’t doubt that at that time Tracc was still coming to terms with all the events that happened.  As he was when he sat down for his MFC video.

[rpfc 28,045]

5 minutes ago, Lord Neville X Flash said:

Stop buying the media crisis narratives. They were wrong and are now clutching at straws to save face

The fact TM is saying Melbourne were the ones pushing the "brand petracca" narrative is evidence of this - the media, Barrett in particular, pushed this with zero evidence

Squaring that circle…

[Biffen 12,805]

1 hour ago, Watson11 said:

There are 2 takeaways from the Tracc debacle for me.

The first is that Tracc’s reputation has been smashed.  The second is that our club has at least 1 and probably more people that are totally happy to relay private conversations to the media.

It seems to be generally accepted that Tracc or those close to him leaked the initial story to Tom Morris.  Skuit stated “Things are said along these lines to people within his circle, which then filters into the media”

How does anyone know that? It’s taken as fact but totally unsubstantiated.  What about the leak of ANBs trade request.  Or Kozzies?  I listened to Barrett yesterday and he ranted about Brand Petracca wanting to go to a big club and going rogue etc.  When challenged as to how he knew that, he said because that’s what Petracca said.  When challenged further Tracc hadn’t spoken to Barrett and it was clarified that Tracc told people inside Melbourne who told Barrett. Who knows whether that message was skewed to try and make it look like Tracc was the problem. It’s also reported by the media that Tracc was telling MFC players Tracc is unhappy with the leadership, and telling the leadership he was unhappy with the players. I’m not sure about journo’s, but if an untrustworthy rat(s) is telling me about confidential conversations,  I wouldn’t trust them.  I would want to check with the original source.  But it seems journos don’t do that.  They trust the snakes that leak confidential stuff out.  And once every 20 years someone takes legal action against them and it costs the newspaper dollars.  But they don’t care because of all the other 1000 “stories” they source from dishonest people that create clicks and make money.

But everyone knows that’s how the media work.  So as a club, control what you can control and don’t talk to the media, and if stuff leaks take action so you get to a position where the club doesn’t leak. Remember when we never leaked.  It wasn’t that long ago.

Tracc, ANB, Kozzie’s confidential conversations have all been leaked and surely it’s not too hard to identify who by.  Their exit interviews were not public events. Tracc’s stuff all broke when he came back to the club after his break. 

We have big issues to sort out urgently starting with who in the club are breaching their employment contracts by leaking confidential information to the media, contributing to dividing the players and damaging the club.  This would be a start in uniting the players again.

I’m probably one of the few supporters whose opinion of Tracc hasn’t been tarnished by this entire episode.  My opinion of him has gone up.  

After some gloating and justified derision of Tom Morris and “his supporters “ (which might be his own accounts) I got DM’ed by Tom Morris.

He said he would provide a link then linked to himself “ breaking” the CP story.

I explained to him that his source may not be reliable if he is the source.

Either way, he and purple are going to extraordinary lengths to justify their “story” to the point where I’m wondering whether it might be a complete fabrication.

Petracca should pick his media commitments better.

MFC should wake up now and become more ruthless, more professional and less accessible to the media.

I found it strange TM would contact a random on X and Barrett was even weirder with his unhinged rant.

[Ted Lasso 18,755]

If Trac was anywhere near as good as he seems to think he is on and off the field he would be determined to play a leading role in helping the MFC get back to where it belongs, rather than looking for a chance to jump ship. 

[rpfc 28,045]

12 minutes ago, Biffen said:

After some gloating and justified derision of Tom Morris and “his supporters “ (which might be his own accounts) I got DM’ed by Tom Morris.

He said he would provide a link then linked to himself “ breaking” the CP story.

I explained to him that his source may not be reliable if he is the source.

Either way, he and purple are going to extraordinary lengths to justify their “story” to the point where I’m wondering whether it might be a complete fabrication.

Petracca should pick his media commitments better.

MFC should wake up now and become more ruthless, more professional and less accessible to the media.

I found it strange TM would contact a random on X and Barrett was even weirder with his unhinged rant.

The answer isn’t less access to the media - it’s engaging in the right way. And the leaking that pits club against player (and the reverse from his agents) is obviously happening - regardless about what you think about the embellishment of Morris and Purple.

[Fritta and Turner 4,181]

What an absolute debacle.  Like a nightmare really.  Tracca has been trashed, the club has been trashed, we have all had sleepless nights.

So it is all good for now, but if any club starts to accumulate first round draft picks for 2025 it will all start again

And Tracca, try and get some clean possessions in the first quarter of any game next year.

[Deez21 163]

Petracca spoke to the players before committing to know he'd be okay at the club.

He's happy his grievances about the club have been listened to and that all he wanted. He knew a deal couldn't be done with the clubs he wanted and then moved to mending fences at Melbourne.

A lot of work for club and player to ensure we don't have a repeat in 2025