Demons star Christian Petracca has undergone surgery for serious internal injuries suffered against Collingwood.
The 2021 premiership winner had surgery on Monday night to repair four broken ribs, lacerations to the spleen and a punctured lung.
It’s unclear how long he will be sidelined.
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Christian Petracca clutches at his ribs. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Petracca copped a Darcy Moore knee to his ribs during a marking contest in the dying moments of the first quarter of his side’s 14.5 (89) to 6. 15 (51) loss to Collingwood.
In obvious agony, Petracca clutched at his ribs as he struggled off the field.
“This is massive from a Melbourne perspective … if it’s a serious injury, what is that going to the Dees as they try to claw their way back into the eight?,” AFL legend Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy.
David King suggested the injury could potentially put an end to the Demons’ finals hopes.
“You can’t help but feel this is their season walking off of the ground here; he’s the reason they score, he’s the reason their forward 50 corrects,” he said.
“The domino affect; the player that replaces him in the midfield or up forward is nowhere near that level… it’s pretty much Max Gawn or bust.”
Christian Petracca watches on from the bench. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Petracca was taken to the dressing room, and somehow returned to the field for the second quarter. He was subbed out of the match at half-time.
Having taken a 27-point lead into the main break, the Magpies’ dominance continued for the rest of the game.
But there was one concern for the Pies – Nick Daicos was subbed out in the final quarter with a leg complaint, however he described it as “precautionary” to 7 post-match.
Collingwood’s win pushed them back to sixth while the Demons are 10th.
