I am hearing from a couple of people that both Petracca and the club learnt a lot from what happened last year. Both are a bit 50/50 over what might happen this year. Petracca would be fine with staying with the club and the club would be happy with him staying.

If Petracca decides to look elsewhere then the club's position is that they will want a proper return. I think that there are some outlines on what they see as proper value. No idea what they are. If the club cannot see the value in the trade then Petracca sticks to his contract and plays with Melbourne in '26.

King, his approach to the game style and Petracca's role in that plan is critical in the decisions that are taken. If he stays I could see him being on the ball a little more than he has in the past two seasons.

I believe that if he moves then there will be every attempt to negotiate the deal very quietly and then roll out the deal into the public domain quickly and with a little fore warning a possible.

In my opinion, Petracca will be a lot more comfortable playing next season after having '25 as a 'recovery' season from the serious injury he had in '24. The injury he sustained, upon reflection, was most likely the first time Christian realized that he was not bulletproof.

I do not have a problem with players moving clubs. AFL is a professional sport where the players have a limited amount of time to earn their dollars. They need to maximise their income. However, as with all jobs that people do, your income is only one part of it and has to be balanced with enjoyment of you work environment, the people you work with an understanding of the structure in which you work.

I have no idea how this will unfold over the next few weeks. My preference is for Petracca to stay and play out his contract.

18 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

I realize there is a shift to rebuilding but it's the wrong time Tassie are coming they will take all the draft picks. It's not the right time if we are still on the bottom then good luck moving up the ladder. Be careful what you wish for.

So you’re happy to finish 10-16 every year for the next decade?

30 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Yes it is. This draft is horrible it goes 2 players deep West Coast will be licking thier lips the rest will get ordinary players. I take you back to the draft when Sparrow and Jordon got drafted. It was a horribly weak draft but Taylor did well to secure them considering what came before them and what came after them. This draft is worse the worst of all time. I trust Taylor to do his best if there is no talent there there is no talent there.

I don't want draft picks in the worst draft of all time I want players. Gold Coast have said Humphrey, Read and Walter are off limits. I say fair enough with Humphrey he's a generational player but Read and Walter no way. You have to give Read, Walter and Flanders or you are not getting Petracca minimum. You can thrown in Rosas for nothing and we'll throw in pick 23 for more draft capitol.

You keep referencing this being the worst draft. That will be determined well past draft night. There will be some very good players coming out this years pool and not all of them will be top picks.

5 minutes ago, GS_1905 said:

So you’re happy to finish 10-16 every year for the next decade?

That is where we will be if we rebuild because Tassie will take all the picks leaving us with no picks just like 2012 again. We could finish higher with a healthy Trac, Clarry, Gawn and recruit Flanders and Miochek.

1 minute ago, WERRIDEE said:

The silence is deafening. Which is a shame I wish he would just come out and say I'm going nowhere.

On the face of things yes... totally agree.. yes or go or whatever. Ollie has so why not Tracc ??

And thats the clue. What are his motives ??

My take. He's a footballer, a very good one. Not quite at the top of his game but still 'effective' . Does he feel bound to Melbourne ? Im going to suggest no. You're free to disagree but I do invite you to look at the evidence. He's more than happy to play for us. He's more than happy it seems ( granted ..its a picture being painted ) to play for another. That is the definition of mercenary. I've no problem at all with that. I can understand if others find that unpalatable.

He's playing HIS game. I get it. Im fine with it. Sit back, shut up, let the hired help do their jobs.

He doesn't owe me squidly... doesn't owe anyone squidly really. Thats just the modern football landscape.

He'd line up in a different jumper next year without worrying about what any of us here think nor want.

He's a footballer, that's his JOB. If any were paying attention he told us that exact thing only weeks ago.

So let's take him at his word. I've no reason to doubt it.

To reciprocate the idea I'm happy if he plays for us...am content if he goes and we're compensated.

Meanwhile other than the Big Dance the only other game in town is the 🎪.

Im pretty sure the club will understand this.

Players have a limited time in which to play the game. Part of playing that game for some is playing another.

The simple reality of why he can't say this or that is because he can't. He doesn't know himself.... the game hasn't played out to that extent yet.

5 minutes ago, Nietaphart said:

You keep referencing this being the worst draft. That will be determined well past draft night. There will be some very good players coming out this years pool and not all of them will be top picks.

If you can't handle facts I can't help you! Take another look at the Sparrow draft and tell me if that was a good draft? This is worse that's why we got out it to get 2 picks in last years draft. The top 20 last year would all be in the top 2 to 3 this year. This draft is no good no matter which way you look at it. The talent coming out Victoria is weak except for the first 2 picks in the draft who are Victorians. There is a little bit of talent coming out of SA but not much.

Yes our ascendency up the ladder was amazing this year keeping all those guys.

Keeping stars doesn't always equate to wins.

The Sparrow draft was a good draft.

Walsh (pre injury), Rankine, Rozee, Butters, King brothers, Bailey Smith, Blakey, Quaynor, Bobby Hill, and plenty of lower picks that have played 100 games.

Don't just troll @john delosa.

At least people have the guts to put their opinions forward.

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

If you can't handle facts I can't help you! Take another look at the Sparrow draft and tell me if that was a good draft? This is worse that's why we got out it to get 2 picks in last years draft. The top 20 last year would all be in the top 2 to 3 this year. This draft is no good no matter which way you look at it. The talent coming out Victoria is weak except for the first 2 picks in the draft who are Victorians. There is a little bit of talent coming out of SA but not much.

Just because we blew our picks in it doesn't mean it was terrible.

5 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

Don't just troll @john delosa.

At least people have the guts to put their opinions forward.

I mean this from the bottom of my heart, I like discussing MFC with a lot of people on here but I really, really do not care if people agree with my takes or not. Not on here to rack up likes or win the popular vote, I call it as I see it and that's not changing.

Mentioned it a few times but most places I looked at today didnt think it was a bad offer, Cal Twomey asked Riley Beveridge on Gettable today if 14 and F1 gets the deal done and he said yes without thinking about it too much. It's really only been on here where people are emphatically rejecting this offer and I understand that because of the emotional connection. We all have different ambitions with this club. Some would be happy for Petracca to be a one club player at the expense of future success and that is fine. Some want to live through the windshield and not the rear view mirror, making bold and not always popular decisions and that is fine too.

The key is that good football clubs make good football decisions, popular or not. I recall very few if any people saying to make the trade for Petty to Adelaide this time two years ago. But now? Haha

If we didn't make this deal and Trac's stock plummets more next year anc beyond then I look forward to the first DH who says we should have made the deal.

16 minutes ago, Bowserpower said:

Just because we blew our picks in it doesn't mean it was terrible.

Funny that I just looked at it and your right. It was better than I thought it was.

2 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

The silence is deafening. Which is a shame I wish he would just come out and say I'm going nowhere.

Probably because he's actually considering it.