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In short:
Media reports this week have suggested Christian Petracca could part ways with the Melbourne Demons.
Petracca has not played since the King's Birthday match against Collingwood after suffering "traumatic" injuries.
What's next?
In a letter to club members, Demons CEO Gary Pert said Petracca is a valuable member of the club who is integral to its future after a disappointing season.
Melbourne CEO Gary Pert has shut down suggestions Christian Petracca could be traded this summer amid reports the injured midfielder is frustrated with the club.
Pert wrote a letter to the club's members on Tuesday afternoon after reports emerged on Monday night claiming Petracca is seeking an exit.
"Christian is an integral and much-loved member of the Melbourne Football Club. He is a key pillar of our club's future, and we value him immensely, not only as a player, but as a person and a leader," Pert's letter read, in part.
"He has been an important member of our football program since he walked through the doors in 2014 and is contracted until the end of the 2029 season. He will remain in the red and blue until at least the end of his contract and hopefully beyond."
Loading...Petracca has been sidelined since Melbourne's King's Birthday loss to Collingwood as he works to recover from a lacerated spleen, four broken ribs and a punctured lung, injuries he has previously described as "the most traumatic thing I've experienced".
Petracca returned to the football club on Saturday night for the first time since his injury, attending the MCG to watch the Demons' two-point loss to Port Adelaide.
"He (Petracca) is an important person, someone that we love dearly, and someone that we've got our arms wide open to bring back in and get him healthy," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
"He's had a really, really tough time, very traumatic experience and suffered a lot in terms of what he's gone through, but it's just great to get him back around the club."
The 28-year-old, who Melbourne took with the second pick in the 2014 draft, signed a seven-year contract extension with Melbourne in 2021. He is a four-time All-Australian, a two-time club best and fairest winner, and won the Norm Smith Medal for a best-on-ground performance in the 2021 Grand Final. He has kicked 184 goals in 189 appearances for the Demons since making his debut in 2016.
Pert acknowledged the 2024 season had been "disappointing" for Melbourne, a team considered a pre-season premiership contender, and revealed the club has been in "open and constructive" conversations with players about next season and beyond.
"As we approach the end of the season, we have commenced discussions with a cross section of players, coaches and staff within our football program to discuss the improvements we need to make to return to the level we expect from our AFL program," he wrote.
"The 2024 season has been disappointing for us all and we must quickly turn our attention to what is required moving forward, both on and off the field, to ensure we climb back up the ladder.
"A key part of this process is openly discussing any opportunities we identify where we can seek to improve. Over recent weeks there have been conversations with many of our leaders, Christian included, about our opportunities for growth. These conversations have been open and constructive, with the purpose of ensuring that together we achieve the success we know our AFL program is capable of.
"Conversations like these are a regular part of footy and will continue over the next few weeks, as we map out a clear path towards ensuring our AFL program is back in finals contention in 2025."
Trade speculation surrounding Petracca comes after star midfielder Clayton Oliver was close to being traded last summer due to a series of off-field issues.
However, Goodwin has indicated Oliver is "not going anywhere" in recent weeks, urging reporters to "lay off him".
"He's a Melbourne person, through and through," Goodwin said after the Demons' two-point defeat to GWS on July 27.
"He's not going anywhere.
"He's a proud Melbourne person. We love him. We love the work that he's done, and we'll get his footy right.
"He's going to be here for a long time playing some great footy."
Melbourne, currently 13th on the ladder, faces the Gold Coast Suns and Collingwood in its final two matches of the season.
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