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Christian Petracca has suffered another brutal setback in his bid to play Round 1 this year, with Melbourne revealing the superstar sustained a cracked rib at training on Friday morning.
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The 29-year-old superstar’s latest injury is of extra significance, given his well-documented history with knocks in the area.
Petracca hasn’t appeared at AFL level since his side’s King’s Birthday clash with Collingwood on June 10 last year, where he suffered four broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and a partially punctured lung before controversially returning to the field of play for a brief period. His injuries brought a swift end to his 2024 campaign.
The Demons released a statement on Petracca’s wellbeing on Friday evening.
“During today’s training session, Christian received a knock to the rib area in a contest,” Demons Performance Manager Selwyn Griffith said in the statement.
“We sent Christian for scans this afternoon, which unfortunately showed a crack in his rib.
“This is frustrating news for Christian, who was progressing well and had recovered from the rib and spleen issues he sustained during the 2024 season.
“A timeline for his recovery will be determined in due course.”
Petracca is signed on at Melbourne until the end of 2029, and has played 189 games since his AFL debut in 2016.
In less serious, but just as frustrating news for superstar counterpart Nick Daicos, the 22-year-old has been placed on a modified pre-season program after succumbing to mild plantar fasciitis per multiple reports.
Daicos has previously suffered a hairline fracture in his right knee back in 2023, which ended his second season in the competition prematurely.
Elsewhere, Fremantle duo Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters have undergone minor knee surgeries, but the Dockers are confident they will be ready to go for the upcoming season.
A scan following an incident while Fyfe was training on the weekend revealed no significant cartilage or meniscus damage, but it was agreed after surgical review that some loose bodies should be removed via arthroscope to help stabilise the knee.
“These bodies can continue to cause issues and surgical removal can provide the most predictable outcome to avoid ongoing symptoms,” said Executive General Manager of Football Joe Brierty.
Walters had a similar procedure over the Christmas break but has recovered well and is expected to resume with the football program over the next fortnight.
