Christian Petracca trade ‘unrealistic’ for Magpies: Craig McRae

As speculation Christian Petracca wants out of Melbourne reaches fever pitch, Collingwood coach Craig McRae has conceded a move for the disgruntled superstar would be “unrealistic” for the Magpies.

Elsewhere, Gold Coast will have work to do, with triple-premiership Tiger Daniel Rioli and Collingwood defender John Noble seeking trades north, despite being contracted to their current clubs.

And West Coast have confirmed premiership defender Tom Barrass has requested a trade to Hawthorn, despite being contracted to the Eagles for another three seasons.

Reports that injured gun Petracca is unhappy and wants a trade, despite being contracted until the end of 2029, have escalated.

He reportedly stressed his desire to leave Melbourne in his exit interview on Monday and has made that sentiment clear to some teammates.

Petracca has not spoken publicly about his playing future since the reports emerged.

Melbourne have publicly been steadfast on holding him to his contract and would be expected to ask for the world in a trade.

Carlton star Harry McKay has already been caught up in speculation, which was rejected by his manager David Trotter on SEN on Tuesday, that he could be a potential bargaining chip for Petracca.

Collingwood have also been floated as a potential club of interest for Petracca, but lack draft capital - with just picks No.38, 48 and 58 at their disposal.

“I joke about ‘I’ve got a car park for him’ because you’re having fun with it because it’s unrealistic,” McRae told SEN.

“You deal in facts and you deal with what’s real, and I’m not privy to why or how or what the rumours are (about Petracca), but we have our own draft hand and you go ‘well, that probably doesn’t work’.

“It sits over there in the wish list, where I’m going ‘jeez, it’s one of those things that I don’t think that’s reality based on our draft hand’.”

Petracca, 28, appeared on a podcast, released on Tuesday, and didn’t address his future, instead talking about his traumatic injuries suffered during the King’s Birthday match in June.

He suffered a lacerated spleen, punctured lung and four broken ribs when crunched by an accidental knee from Collingwood captain Darcy Moore.

Petracca elaborated on his “traumatic” experience and multiple surgeries, including one point when he was in a critical condition.

“This must have been 3am in the morning. I didn’t know at the time; I was drugged up,” Petracca told The Howie Games podcast.

“(His partner) Bella came to the ICU the next day and basically said at three in the morning ? he (the surgeon) called to say you might not make it, basically.

“(He said) ‘he’s in critical condition’ because of internal bleeding and everything.

“For me, it was more that that hit home rather than the actual injury itself.”

Richmond are set for a hectic trade period, with Rioli, who is contracted until the end of 2027, telling the Tigers in his exit meeting he wants to join the Suns.

Shai Bolton (contracted until 2028) is eyeing a return to Western Australia with Fremantle, while vice-captain Liam Baker and midfielder Jack Graham are both out of contract and expected to join West Coast.

Collingwood’s Noble has requested a trade to the Suns for family reasons despite being contracted until the end of 2026.

Noble was one of the heartbreak stories of Collingwood’s 2023 premiership, when he was dropped ahead of their finals run.

McRae said he understood Noble’s family situation but said “I don’t want him to go”, indicating the Magpies would drive a hard bargain.

“He’s not disgruntled, and he understands if it doesn’t work out he’s playing with us next year,” he said.

Dashing defender Noble has played 112 games since he was a mid-season selection in 2019.