I’d leave the decision up to King

If King thinks Trac is going to play a key role in how we play next year, keep him to his contract and try to get the best out of him

If he thinks he won’t contribute to that method in a significant way - or think we need to plug other areas with potential picks or players coming back the other way - then get the trade done while he still has currency

Trac will forever be remembered as a Premiership hero, but I’m a big believer in making tough decisions to better the whole of your list (see Hawthorn as the recent example) - we’ll see what King and co think

Edited 11 hours ago11 hr by demoncat

HS article throws around a lot of possibilities, but points out that of the clubs that would be seriously interested, the only one that has salary cap space is Adelaide.

The article also questions what's in it for us. In terms of a trade there are hardly any established key forwards available, and if we get picks, it's a comparatively weak draft.

1 hour ago, jumbo returns said:

Begone #CP5!!

23 minutes ago, BDA said:

This is the issue for me. Is he invested or not? If he isn’t then he has to be cut loose.

Fair points, but I don’t think finishing 2nd in the B&F screams ‘not invested.’ To me it says even when his head wasn’t perfect and the team was struggling, he still delivered. If the new setup clicks, that investment might grow rather than shrink

26 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

We did the right thing last year keeping him to his contract and hoping we can turn things around. He was in a bad mental state post injury, and we were in a bad place off the field.

12 months on, he’s come 2nd in the B&F, and has a new CEO and new coach (coaches if you count a new midfield/ forward coaches coming in). More than that we can’t do.

If he still isn’t buying what we are selling, then we need to let him go. You can’t keep him tied to the club against his wishes forever.

24 minutes ago, BDA said:

This is the issue for me. Is he invested or not? If he isn’t then he has to be cut loose.

They’re on holidays. Season is over. What more can he do? This report - even if it is true - is subjective claptrap from players who gave less than CP5 in 2025.

Giving the players a fresh start applies to all the players not just the ones you like or ‘accept their behaviour’ toward the club.

We are not getting value in a trade - we have to prepare for CP5 to be around in 2026 and my request of King is to leverage the power and of Christian and play him in roles that are moulded to his strengths. CP5 having bad body language because of the lack at we kicked into the forward line is not a fireable offence.

And I am getting sick and tired of the usual trolls on here that ‘hate’ Petracca but will be the first losers with a sheepish grin if has 30 and kicks 3 in Kings debut next season. Show some bloody respect.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by rpfc

[censored] we'd be doing cartwheels if Trac wanted to go the Suns, they've got picks and players coming out of the wazoo!

Yes, because GC is a ‘big club’

Just now, Demon Disciple said:

Yes, because GC is a ‘big club’

Premiership window + location + AFL ambassador briefcases full of cash is pretty compelling!

1 minute ago, adonski said:

Premiership window + location + AFL ambassador briefcases full of cash is pretty compelling!

What would that do for his’ brand’ tho, smaller crowds than us in a Rugby state.

8 minutes ago, adonski said:

[censored] we'd be doing cartwheels if Trac wanted to go the Suns, they've got picks and players coming out of the wazoo!

Humphries and first round picks. 🤩

16 minutes ago, rpfc said:

They’re on holidays. Season is over. What more can he do?

And I am getting sick and tired of the usual trolls on here that ‘hate’ Petracca but will be the first losers with a sheepish grin if has 30 and kicks 3 in Kings debut next season. Show some bloody respect.

He could do what Clarry has done and let his manager say he’s all in, he loves the club, he’s invested and can’t wait to work under King. He’s on holidays not on the moon.

If there is no truth to the noise, don’t do what you did last year, don’t let it fester, just shut it down. Do it now. Or it’ll keep coming back.

And I don’t think anyone hates Trac. I’m on record as saying that the quickest way back to success is for King to get the best out of Trac and Clarry again, and that trading is the easiest option, but one fraught with danger. But you can’t get the best out of someone who isn’t invested.

If he wants out, he wants out. I’m glad we tried working with him, and gave him time to heal physically and mentally. He’s had an ok season and there is loads to work with there for King. But again, you can’t keep dragging players who don’t want to be at your club. I personally hope he stays, but if he’s not 100% in, then he has to go.

25 minutes ago, bing181 said:

HS article throws around a lot of possibilities, but points out that of the clubs that would be seriously interested, the only one that has salary cap space is Adelaide.

The article also questions what's in it for us. In terms of a trade there are hardly any established key forwards available, and if we get picks, it's a comparatively weak draft.

I think we’d be willing to pay a chunk of Tracc’s salary for more draft capital.

It might be a weak draft but still better than no draft.

If for instance we could get 6 and Flanders for Tracc and 23 I’d be happy with that.

23 minutes ago, adonski said:

[censored] we'd be doing cartwheels if Trac wanted to go the Suns, they've got picks and players coming out of the wazoo!

GC is literally one of the best case scenarios. I’d say Trac and our 2nd rounder for Jed Walters and Flanders feels about right.

Tom Morris please spare me. Does anyone fact check his Nostradamus predictions. He did this last year as well and thankfully Green shut it down. At function this year I have been able to talk with Trac and he has never entertained leaving Melbourne. He doesn';t pparticularly like Tom Morris either. OH and by the way the new coach was meeting the list manager and recruiting manager this arvo but has clearly stated that he wants Oliver and petracca at the Dees in our best 25 next season.

5 hours ago, Demons64 said:

First post,long time Dee fanatic,suffice to say that I cried in 1954 and again in 1958,I’ve since forgiven the Doggies,but the rage I felt in 58 has never abated,I Still hate the Pies.The question I would like all those advocating we trade either Trac or Clarry to answer is in what world does losing either or both makes us

better side,salary cap,relief maybe,but who do spend it on?nobody wants to come,draft picks in a poor and compromised draft,I’m sorry I fail to see the logic.

The logic is if he doesn’t want to play for us then find a trade IF we can. I’m leaving it to King, he’ll speak to him and what follows will be the answer.

22 minutes ago, Older demon said:

Tom Morris please spare me. Does anyone fact check his Nostradamus predictions. He did this last year as well and thankfully Green shut it down. At function this year I have been able to talk with Trac and he has never entertained leaving Melbourne. He doesn';t pparticularly like Tom Morris either. OH and by the way the new coach was meeting the list manager and recruiting manager this arvo but has clearly stated that he wants Oliver and petracca at the Dees in our best 25 next season.

Regardless of what you choose to believe but Trac 💯 tried to leave last year.

This was always going to be the media narrative this year. If he wanted out last year why wouldn't he want out this year? Until Petracca opens his mouth about the situation which he stupidly doesn't do then I don't believe a word Morris says.

New Demons coach Steven King has made no secret of his expectations for Melbourne to return to finals next year. And he won't go down without a fight in keeping Christian Petracca in the red and blue. 7NEWS.com.au @cleary_mitch @7AFL #7NEWS

Tom Morris. Lives in mud!! That’s his journalism

You can bet that a certain new coach in town will have his to do list for sep 29.

London to a brick there are particular names he wants a chat with.

King has a lot to get on board with and a lot to sort in a dizzyingly short space of time.

He'll want to know who's on his side and who ain't.

Some of these convos won't be long but they'll be ro the point.

There's a new Sheriff in town lads.

I've a gut feeling #5 is #1 on that list.

6 hours ago, Demons64 said:

First post,long time Dee fanatic,suffice to say that I cried in 1954 and again in 1958,I’ve since forgiven the Doggies,but the rage I felt in 58 has never abated,I Still hate the Pies.The question I would like all those advocating we trade either Trac or Clarry to answer is in what world does losing either or both makes us

better side,salary cap,relief maybe,but who do spend it on?nobody wants to come,draft picks in a poor and compromised draft,I’m sorry I fail to see the logic.

Agree on clarry but not tracc - and that's not a knock on tracc.

If we put clarry on the trade table we have no chance of getting anything in return that is a net positive even on this seasons form (which was serviceable) and certainly not on what we might expect next season (he was getting over to his best in the last third of the season and not coincidentally looking in better nick).

But we could get a good return for tracc, whether that's draft picks a player or a combination of the two.

As good as tracc is, with clarry, viney and Langford (who will eventually surely go into the middle) we have too many midfield bulls.

And we have too few outside mids/half back flankers/utilities that are elite kicks and good wheels.

That is our single biggest need.

Id support trading tracc if it helped us fill that need.

Clarry has upside and showed in the last few games that if given the right role he can return to the player he was.

I guy I know thought that when Tracc swapped his management team for a person who was a social media manager it was kind of a sign that he had lost a bit of love with the game perhaps and looking at it more as just a job as he himself kind of said before correcting himself. Like well im stuck in my contract so ill just coast along and then slowly head into the influencer world haha

Yeah we have a fairly one dimensional older midfield that lacks pace and two way running but the youngsters will hopefully arrest that.

Flanders and a first round pick for Trac.

Can't begrudge a player that's given as much as Tracc has a fresh start of that's what they want.

Maybe it is best.

However there will be no demands on clubs to be sent to and no us getting screwed in the process. We have to be in the driver's seat.