john delosa

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

Our whole forward structure was dysfunctional. When the system breaks down, even stars look flat.

Ah yes, the old body-language stat, right up there with clangers and contested possessions.

There’s a huge difference between what happened with Trac and what Merrett’s doing now. Last year, whatever angst existed with Trac stayed internal. The club managed it, the player kept his dignity, and nothing spilled out that couldn’t be patched over.

Detector can think what it likes I know where the words came from.

If you reckon that was AI, then maybe you’ve just forgotten what a coherent argument looks like! Funny — when someone strings a few coherent thoughts together online, the assumption is it must be a machine. Says a lot about the age we’re in.

I get the frustration, but calling it ‘living in the past’ ignores the reality. Petracca’s 2021 wasn’t a fluke — it was a peak that only the very best ever reach. He’s since dealt with serious injury, and naturally that knocks a player back. But form isn’t fixed. Class players rebound, especially when they’re still in their prime years. Trac is still one of the few in our side capable of turning a game on its head, and that kind of player doesn’t just evaporate.”**

Damn, caught by my punctuation. I’ll swap the dash for a dodgy comma next time.”

When footy talk sounds too coherent, people assume AI — maybe that says more about the internet than us.

“Funny thing with champions — their ‘off year’ looks disappointing only because we’re comparing them to their peak, not the pack. Against the rest, Trac still stands tall, which is exactly why he finished 2nd.”

There’s been some weird over-analysis of Trac’s so-called ‘speech.’ First off, it wasn’t even a speech — it was an interview. And when you strip away the media spin, his responses were perfectly normal and appropriate. Injury Context → He’s coming off a major setback. Of course his body and mindset aren’t 100% yet, but that doesn’t erase his class. Media Amplification → A handful of words get chopped up, reprinted, and suddenly people treat them like a manifesto. That’s on the cycle of clickbait, not on Trac. On-field Reality → Whatever nitpicking people do off-field, the fact is Petracca is still a cornerstone of our best 22. Any incoming coach in 2026 would be mad not to demand he’s part of their setup. Distraction Factor → Trade gossip and quote-mining are sideshows. What wins games is system, fitness, and keeping your match-winners on the park. Bottom line: Trac isn’t going anywhere. He’s a Norm Smith medallist, a premiership hero, and one of the few players who can genuinely turn a game. You don’t trade that away because a few lines in an intervie

I’ve never seen Trac himself say a bad word about the club — unless someone’s got actual quotes, this feels more like whispers than facts, Funny how silence gets turned into headlines. I’ve yet to hear Trac himself bag the club — but in the echo chamber, whispers become ‘fact.’ That’s not evidence, that’s just propaganda with a guernsey on. If Trac’s been bagging the club, he’s done it in invisible ink.

Also, “Every champion looks mortal when they’re banged up — but you don’t trade away your gladiators because they bleed. Trac’s flaws are real, but so is his ceiling, and Melbourne without him is a side hoping instead of contending.”

He’s become one of the faces of the club alongside Max Gawn. Losing him would shatter supporter morale and risk Melbourne being seen as a “selling club, With Gawn still leading, Oliver in his prime, and May/Lever in defence, Melbourne’s flag window is open now. Trading Petracca would slam that window shut for at least 3–5 years.

Petracca isn’t just another midfielder — he’s a rare hybrid: explosive clearance winner, powerful forward, and proven big-game performer. Few players can swing between midfield dominance and match-winning forward impact like he can. Even if a trade brought draft picks or younger talent, there’s no guarantee of replacing his impact. You don’t trade a top 10 player in the league unless you’re rebuilding from scratch — and Melbourne isn’t.

Christian Petracca isn’t just a great player, he’s a pillar. Trading him would undo Melbourne’s premiership DNA. If you want to chase another flag in the next 2–3 years, you build around him, Trac isn’t trade bait — he is Melbourne. You don’t trade your Norm Smith, your match-winner, your heartbeat. End of story!

“Funny how trade week chat always feels like politics in miniature — big promises, rumours spun, values inflated, and in the end the deal was never really on the table. Houston was the distraction, pick 5 the propaganda. Meanwhile the real work of building a side happens in the shadows. Houston and his managers always knew pick 5 was not on the table!

Are you triggered by my one mouse clicks? Good day to you also.

(he has a contract until he's 34 so there's no real need to graft for a club he's no longer totally invested in)

Junk, you win out of all the discourteous comments that I have read on hear this past week yours is the best, ffs man get a [censored] grip!

Who TF is badloss?

You must have trouble finding the ignore or mute !

It sure will!