- Christian Petracca will not be attending Melbourne’s best and fairest night
- The 28-year-old is in Austria to rebuild his fitness
- Petracca wanted to force a transfer from Melbourne
Melbourne star Christian Petracca says he wants to get back to the person he was physically and mentally with a training camp in Austria.
Petracca will skip the Demons’ best and fairest matches to join other athletes at a Red Bull training camp, but he does expect to join his teammates on the first day of pre-season training later this year.
Melbourne said Petracca had been given permission by his surgeon to increase his heart rate, a limit previously set too high for him, which had slowed his recovery from a ruptured spleen and other internal injuries sustained during a match to mark the King’s birthday.
The 28-year-old told Melbourne’s website in an interview that he “just wanted to prioritise my training and my injury” during the trip overseas.
“It will be great, probably from a mental point of view, to have the confidence in myself and my body again so that I can be ready to go on day one of pre-season,” he said.
‘For me it was just a great experience to be able to use their facilities and have access to some of the best athletes in the world.
“I’m keen to get back in the game and get back on the (MCG) in front of the fans in the first round. I’m really looking forward to getting back racing.”
According to Melbourne fitness manager Selwyn Griffith, the Demons had input into Petracca’s training regime during his time at Red Bull’s training camp.
Christian Petracca has explained why he won’t be attending Melbourne’s best and fairest night
The Demons star player has been sidelined due to a serious injury he sustained in June
He has backtracked on his desire to force a departure from the club
“This training camp is crucial for Christian, both from a performance and mental wellbeing perspective,” said Griffith.
“We have worked closely with Red Bull’s top team to ensure that the training camp makes the most of every opportunity. The aim is to have Christian fully prepared and ready for the first day of pre-season training.”
Petracca, who reportedly pushed for a transfer from Melbourne amid dissatisfaction with the club’s direction, said he had taken part in “very robust discussions” with club officials.
“I think the conversations I’ve had with the club over the last two or three months have been very healthy,” he said.
‘We’ve had some really tough discussions. I think that’s great.
‘Just like in any workplace or football club, you have conversations all year round and you just want to create a pleasant working atmosphere where we like to come to work.’
The midfield star made it clear in a statement from the club earlier this month that he would remain with the Demons.