Harry McKay linked to Christian Petracca AFL trade speculation as Melbourne in damage control

Carlton star Harry McKay has found himself embroiled in the Christian Petracca saga with reports he could be traded to Melbourne to accommodate the disgruntled star’s exit.

McKay’s manager David Trotter on Tuesday rejected the idea that his client could be a potential bargaining chip for Petracca.

The latest twist comes as Petracca spoke about the fear he “might not make it” through surgery on his traumatic spleen injury and revelations the Demons end of season function at the weekend was dominated by chatter about the Demons star’s future.

Reports that injured gun Petracca is unhappy and wants out of the Demons, despite being contracted until the end of 2029, have escalated over the past week.

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 return for any trade.

Petracca was scheduled to do a TV interview before the Demons’ clash with Collingwood last Friday, but Steven May filled in, talking about his teammate’s mental health struggles.

Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson said last week the club was not considering trading Petracca.

The 28-year-old appeared on a podcast, released on Tuesday, and didn’t address his future.

Instead, Petracca spoke about his traumatic injuries suffered during the King’s Birthday match in June.

Melbourne’s management of his injuries is believed to be one of several factors in Petracca’s unrest.

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

He later had to undergo surgery - without going under general anaesthetic - and detailed the toll it had taken on he and his fiancee Bella.

“It’s been really, really tough, probably the most traumatic thing I’ve experienced in my life,” Petracca told The Howie Games podcast.

That included one point when Petracca was in a critical condition.

“This must have been 3am in the morning. I didn’t know at the time; I was drugged up,” he said.

“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.

“I’ll be fine physically and I’ll be able to train and get back to playing. It’s just more that piece; that the people around you feel it more than you.”

Petracca detailed how he and his partner had been struggling over the past six to seven weeks.

“I’ve got insomnia, I feel like, to be honest, I can’t sleep because of stuff like that and having to see a trauma psych to deal with what’s going on,” he said.

“A lot of stuff (is keeping me awake) - the self-doubt ... the trauma, and the stress of everything.

“I’ve been in and out of hospital three or four times through emergency.

“People are being lovely and friendly and asking me what’s going on, like, ‘How you going? How you going?’ and just constantly getting asked about it, I just relive it so much.

“For me, I think about it every day - which is something I eventually will get over.”