Lyon: “Not a snowflake’s chance in hell” that Melbourne would trade Petracca

Christian Petracca is reportedly “disgruntled and particularly disillusioned” with Melbourne’s direction.

That is according to Channel Nine journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris who reported on Monday night that the Demons star has “become increasingly unhappy in the wake of his season-ending spleen injury”.

Morris said that Petracca, 28, is not disenchanted with coach Simon Goodwin, but he “would likely ask for a trade” if he were out of contract.

Melbourne great Garry Lyon has commented on the report which surrounds one of the club’s most important players.

Lyon prefaced his comments by saying he knows nothing more than what was reported by Morris, but did make his opinion known by stating that Petracca is contracted with the Demons until the end of the 2029 season.

“There would be discontentment at every single AFL club from a section of players, I will promise you and guarantee you that and you can take it to the bank,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“If Tom is going as definitively as that then he has spoken to someone. I know Tom, you know him, he has got some information from somewhere. I don’t know where it’s from.

“My point is this - and this is the most important thing - he has five years to run on his contract. So that’s 2030 if you want Christian Petracca to be playing somewhere else.”

Lyon said the Dees would only consider something so sensational if any hypothetical trade would land the club the game’s very best young players.

However, the topic of Petracca’s lengthy contract was very much at the forefront with Lyon suggesting “there is not a snowflake’s chance in hell” that Melbourne would be looking to trade him out anytime soon.

“They do, this is the bottom line, contracts do mean something,” he said further.

“If they get Harley Reid and Sam Darcy would you do the trade for Christian Petracca if that’s what it ended up getting to? Maybe you look at it.

“But right now there is not a snowflake’s chance in hell that Melbourne would be trading Christian Petracca. He’s got five years to go on his contract. Five.

“As I said, Tom Morris is a very good news breaker. He’s heard something or he’s spoken to someone. Outside of that, I’m in the dark.”

Former club captain Lyon was asked if Petracca’s season-ending spleen injury and the situation surrounding it could have had a bearing on his apparent mindset.

“I do know it was a really, really tough time for him,” he added.

“It was serious, serious stuff. Then that has an affect on you emotionally and mentally I would imagine.

“I would think upon reflection, yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s looking back at it going, ‘I know I put my hand up but I’ve got to be saved from myself’. I don’t know that, but this is a really difficult area in terms of the medical stuff.

“Since then I’ve seen Jarrod Witts get hit in the back, come off, go back on and then consequently have a fracture in his back. These things happen from time to time.

“There’s no way the Melbourne doctors would have been trying to put him in any (danger). But I can totally understand if he’s got some level (of doubt), or maybe the family is looking at it.

“I would too if my son got put back on in that situation and then ended up having a life-saving surgery that night.”

Petracca has been with the Demons since he was drafted with Pick 2 in 2014.

The four-time All-Australian, two-time best and fairest and 2021 premiership player signed a massive seven-year deal in May 2021.