Eyebrows were also raised internally at Melbourne when Petracca pulled out of an interview on Friday night with host broadcaster Seven.
The club originally locked in Petracca for the interview,but Petracca,himself,pulled out at the last moment,after Seven’s chief football reporter,Mitch Cleary,had already promoted the interview on social media platform X.
Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson told 3AW on Friday that there was a “miscommunication” over Petracca’s interview.
He was also forthright in stating that Petracca would stay in red and blue.
“No,we’re not going to trade Christian,” Richardson said.
“He’s a fantastic player,a fantastic Melbourne person. We acknowledge that it’s been a really tough time for him but our footy club has been built around some really important signings.
Harry McKay is contracted until 2030.Credit:AFL Photos via Getty Images
“He’s a very important cog in what we’re trying to do.”
Carlton,who have shown strong interest in the situation,have emerged as the leading contender for Petracca,but there are only two players that would appease Melbourne in any form of trade:Charlie Curnow and McKay.
Curnow — who shares the same manager as Petracca,Robbie D’Orazio — will not be traded.
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McKay signed a seven-year contract extension less than two years ago when he knocked back free agency to extend his tenure at Ikon Park until the end of 2030.
His deal was signed almost exactly a year after Petracca signed a similar deal with Melbourne to keep him at the Demons until the end of 2029.
McKay,a 204-centimetre key forward,is 26,an All-Australian,a Coleman medallist and a three-time leading goal kicker at the Blues.
Petracca is 28,a four time All-Australian,a two time best-and-fairest winner,Norm Smith medallist and a premiership player.
Any potential trade is far from being determined. Indeed,it remains unlikely at this stage as Carlton have not even raised the prospect with McKay.
The Blues declined to comment.
“I haven’t heard from Carlton,and Harry is very happy there,” McKay’s manager,Dave Trotter,told this masthead when contacted about a potential trade.
Petracca’s management declined to comment,and this masthead contacted Petracca directly for comment.
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The Blues have been in this situation before.
When Brownlow medallist Chris Judd informed the football world that he was leaving West Coast and wanted to be traded to Carlton in 2007,the Blues had to convince young forward Josh Kennedy to go the other way to the Eagles.
Kennedy,then 20,initially objected but eventually agreed to the deal.