Former Demon and Brownlow Medallist Shane Woewodin is urging Melbourne to have ‘honest and hard’ conversations regarding the handling the Christian Petracca saga.
Weeks of speculation surrounding Petracca’s playing future at Melbourne has drawn to a close after a statement was released on Saturday, reaffirming his commitment to the club moving ahead.
In the statement, Petracca also stated he raised concerns he had about the club during an end of season review, but did not reveal what those concerns were.
Speaking on SportFM, Woewodin labelled the entire situation a ‘debacle,’ and hope’s Melbourne can move past it as they head into the 2025 season.
“I’m not sure of what the conversations are happening inside those four walls at the moment, but I’ve always been one of, you just get in a room and sort it out and have the conversations,” he said.
“Whatever’s there or sitting on your chest, just bring it out and air it. Let’s have honest and hard conversations of what it is. You reflect on them and if it’s you and whoever’s responsibility is just own it and do something about it to fix it to get it right.
“I don’t know what the issues are and what’s been spoken about with Trac, his injury, support post injury and the trauma he went through, which you just couldn’t fathom that would be unbelievable, but there’s more to it.
“There’s obviously some cultural pieces, but inside the four walls, I’m not sure what’s been spoken about just yet, but hopefully now we can just move on and get into a pre-season work hard and get into 25.”
Rumours of Petracca seeking a trade arose as the 28 year old opened up about his health following a traumatic season ending injury.
A punctured lung, four broken ribs and a lacerated spleen attained during the King’s Birthday match against Collingwood left the 2021 Norm Smith Medallist sidelined for the remainder of the season.
These injuries left him requiring emergency surgery and a stay in intensive care, with Petracca opening up on the immense impact it had on him.
It is thought that Petracca’s recovery process and the trauma of the injury resulted in the breakdown between him and the club, with club president Kate Roffey stating she had not ‘directly’ spoken to Petracca.
Woewodin stated this admission from Koffey was not a ‘great look’ from the club leader.
“You would have thought and as a supporter, a member, that when you’re in the top chair and you’re reaching out and doing what you can, speaking to your people as well, but certainly reaching out,” he said.
“I understand it’s a football thing, but when you’re the president and it’s your show, good leaders, I would have thought would have reached out and spoken to him.
“But whether or not that was done or how it was done, it didn’t sound like it had been. It was disappointing, but hopefully post that, things have been rectified.”
The trade rumours linked Petracca to Carlton and Collingwood, however such speculation about him moving to those clubs for 2025 onwards ended on Saturday when the statement came out.
Petracca is currently contracted to Melbourne until 2029, and will remain at the club until next season at least. However there is still the possibility for him to move on beyond that.
“I do find it’s going to be pretty hard for him to move this year and I really do hope he stays,” said Woewodin.
“He’s a super human being, he’s a great bloke. I’ll give it to him, he’s done so much for Taj over there and he’s an integral part of this football club.
“We haven’t heard from him, we’ve only seen a statement that’s come out. I’m confident he’ll stay and hopefully for the remaining of his contract.
“We can’t afford to lose someone of his calibre, not only what he does on field but a terrific human being and a great pace for the footy club.”
IMAGE: Seven West Media