Christian Petracca AFL trade saga takes shock twist as Harry McKay detail emerges at Melbourne

Reports about Christian Petracca wanting out of the Melbourne Demons are refusing to go away and it's now emerged that Carlton's Harry McKay could hold the key to any potential move. Reports have emerged in recent weeks that Petracca has become so disillusioned with the AFL club that he'd rather play elsewhere in 2025, but the Demons have remained stedfast that they do not want their star player to leave.

Petracca is still contracted for another five years on a big-money deal at Melbourne but has been struggling both mentally and physically after suffering broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and punctured lung in a season-ending incident against Collingwood in June. The 28-year-old was granted leave to travel to Noosa with his fiancee Bella but it wasn't communicated to some of his teammates and caused friction with the playing group.

The premiership-winning midfielder held clear-the-air talks with the Demons and his teammates to explain the situation when he returned but new reports say the relationship between the star and the club is “beyond repair”. The Age's Sam McClure claims Petracca made it clear to teammates at the club's end-of-season function on Saturday night that he wants to join another Victorian club in 2025, adding that he made that clear to the club in an exit interview on Monday as well.

McClure claimed Petracca's presence at the end-of-season function caused "tension" and left some Demons players feeling "noticeably uncomfortable". “Three club sources and two sources close to Petracca, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, told this masthead that his falling out with the club appears to be beyond repair,” he wrote for The Age.

“The same sources said Petracca was unlikely to formally request a trade because of the difficulty of a deal getting done, and because a public request would further inflame his relationship with the Demons.” SEN's Sam Edmund backed up the claims from McClure and said Petracca was "trying to plot a path out of the Demons". "Christian Petracca has made it clear that he would like to play for another club next year," Edmund told SEN Sportsday.

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“The end-of-season function on the Saturday night was awkward for his presence among him and some of his teammates. Now, this is not to say it definitely happens, of course, and it's also incorrect to say that Christian Petracca only wants to play for Carlton or Collingwood, that’s not true.

“But what does appeal to Petracca is the prospect of - if he did end up leaving - playing for a big Melbourne club, that’s a tick - with a big base and big resources. He wants leadership from the top office. He wants a training base – he’s never liked going out to Casey.”

Collingwood and Carlton have emerged as the two most likely destinations for Petracca if the Demons do change their minds and decide to trade the superstar. But Collingwood does not have a first-round draft pick or a key forward that Melbourne would almost certainly want in return, putting Carlton in the box seat.

Harry McKay comes into Christian Petracca trade debate

The Blues could potentially use sharp-shooter and former Coleman Medallist McKay as a makeweight in what would be a bombshell trade move for Petracca. Much like the Demons star though, McKay is less than two years into a massive contract extension that has tied his future to the Blues until the end of the 2030 season.

“There are only two players that would appease Melbourne in any form of trade; Charlie Curnow and [Harry] McKay,” McClure wrote. “Curnow, who shares the same manager as Petracca, Robbie D’Orazio, will not be traded. “[McKay] is 26, an All-Australian, a Coleman medallist and a three-time leading goal kicker at the Blues... 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."

Demons great Garry Lyon spoke about the situation on Fox Footy on Monday night and backed the club's stance that they weren't interested in trading Petracca "under any circumstances", despite the speculation around McKay. “I have spoken to people through the week, and I’m prepared to double down: he is not going to be traded,” Lyon said.

“They are absolutely resolute that Christian won’t be traded under any circumstances. That Harry McKay stuff – it’s a hypothetical make-up. As we sit here today, there is not one skerrick of evidence or information or contact between club and Harry McKay that stands up.”