MELBOURNE CEO Paul Guerra says the club was “surprised” when star Christian Petracca officially informed them of his desire to play elsewhere in 2026.
Petracca flew to Adelaide on Monday with wife Bella and manager Anna Scullie and will meet with Crows officials while in South Australia.
Gold Coast and Hawthorn have also expressed an interest in the four-time All-Australian.
Speaking on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio on Tuesday, Guerra said the Demons would hold Petracca to his monster contract if they weren’t offered a deal good enough to ‘turn their head’.
“We were surprised to say the least, but it is what it is,” Guerra said.
“In an ideal world Christian stays with us, but ultimately it’s his call to explore other options. He believes he needs a fresh start so our view is let’s see what comes back from that.
“He has a four-year contract with the football club so if we don’t get a deal that satisfies us, Christian will be playing as a Melbourne footballer next year.
“Ultimately, it’s up to Christian and his team now to come forward with a deal that will satisfy us.
“We know what we’ve got and that’s a quality footballer that has a four-year contract. For Christian to leave the football club, it has to be a deal that turns our head.
“He’s a generational player for our club, premiership player, Norm Smith Medallist, second in our best and fairest this year, so it’s going to have to be something pretty good.
“We’ll do the right thing by the football club and if Christian comes back next year, great. If we’ve got a suitable trade that we’ve done, that’s also great.”
AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey has reported that Petracca has already spoken to both Crows coach Matthew Nicks and Suns coach Damien Hardwick.
“This is on the way to happening, it’s just about where he wants to get to and what satisfies Melbourne in a deal,” Twomey said on Gettable on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio.
“Clearly Gold Coast (is best placed to get a deal done).
“They don’t want to lose (Bailey) Humphrey, (Jed) Walter or (Ethan) Read. But someone squeezes out of there, doesn’t it, if they want to get Petracca.
“(Adelaide) don’t want to lose players. Luke Pedlar is a player who has interest. I don’t think he’s necessarily involved in this transaction, but separately there is rival interest, so does that open up another pick? But I still don’t know if he’d generate an early enough pick to move the needle (in a Petracca deal).
“What sort of player are they willing to lose, and do you have to lose one to get one? Clearly Adelaide don’t want to be doing this by sacrificing a top-end prospect.”
Guerra’s comments are a clear turnaround from last year, when the Demons were adamant they would not be trading the star midfielder despite Petracca agitating for a move.
He ultimately chose to remain at the club for 2025.
The Demons finished out of the top eight this year for the second-straight season, sacking coach Simon Goodwin and appointing Steven King, who starts this week.
