Melbourne midfielder Christian Petracca may not be entirely convinced the Demons have fixed the cultural issues that plagued the club this season.
Petracca has returned from a training camp in Austria and started pre-season training with the club.
Melbourne’s culture has repeatedly been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons over the last year, reportedly leaving Petracca disgruntled and wanting out.
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Christian Petracca speaks to 9News Melbourne at Flemington Racecourse. 9News Melbourne
Asked if he is satisfied with the culture at the Demons, Petracca gave a cryptic response.
“Ah, yeah, I guess so,” he told 9News Melbourne.
“I mean culture is an interesting word.
“It’s a high-performance industry and for me, we’re always trying to improve and get better.”
Preparing to pull on the red and blue in 2025 after reportedly seeking a trade away from the club at the end of the season, Petracca voiced his commitment to the club for next season.
“We’ve had healthy conversations and that’s awesome,” he said.
“I love my job, I’m passionate about footy and that’s all I’m really focusing on right now.”
Christian Petracca in action for the Demons. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Petracca’s 2024 season was derailed when the 28-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries in an incident in round 13.
He subsequently underwent surgery to repair four broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and a punctured lung.
Of his time at the Red Bull training camp in Austria — his second time at the camp in as many off-seasons — Petracca said he “really needed” the physical and mental refresher.
“With my injury, I had a compromised year so to get over and train was just amazing,” he said.
“I’m in a really good headspace with everything.”
Petracca participated in his first contact session since his surgery on Wednesday and hopes to be fit and firing come round one.
Christian Petracca clutches at his ribs after being injured during the Demons’ 38-point loss to the Pies in June. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Petracca’s comments came on the same day the club’s chief executive Gary Pert resigned from his post.
Pert reportedly informed the club of his departure on Thursday morning but will stay on until Christmas.
Melbourne’s chief operating officer David Chippindall will take over as acting CEO, while Pert will be retained in a consultancy role.
Pert’s resignation comes as former Melbourne skipper Nathan Jones prepares to join the club’s coaching ranks.
“For me, getting good people through the door is the right thing and he’s just an amazing person — a captain of the footy club for a long time — and to get people like him in with great leadership skills is great,” Petracca said of Jones’ return.
The club will hand down the findings of two separate reviews into its operations on Friday.
