Melbourne midfielder Christian Petracca has opened up on his “traumatic” hospital experience after suffering terrifying season ending injuries against Collingwood, while admitting members of his family were left frustrated at his club.
The 2021 premiership champion had surgery two weeks ago to repair four broken ribs, lacerations to the spleen and a punctured lung after an incident in the Demons’ 38-point loss to the Pies in round 13.
Petracca went back onto the field and played until he was eventually removed from the match and rushed to hospital, where the extent of his injuries were revealed.
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Petracca was confined to the ICU in hospital for a number of days following the surgery, where he was only allowed visits from his parents and fiancée, Bella.
After days spent locked away in hospital, Petracca took to his social media to confirm that his season was officially over, based on the medical advice he received while in care.
Christian Petracca watches on from the bench after his injury. AFL Photos via Getty Images
While the 28-year-old was admittedly heartbroken that he could not take part in the rest of the Demons’ 2024 campaign, he’s now opened up on how football was very quickly put on the backburner when his injuries were revealed.
“It’s probably been the most traumatic thing I’ve experienced,” Petracca said on Tuesday.
“I’m getting quite emotional thinking about it. I think more the severity of it and how it’s impacted my fiancée. That’s probably been the hardest thing to be honest.
“It’s been challenging for both of us, but we’re getting through it, which is the main thing.”
Petracca was helped off in agony. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Despite his obvious trauma – that included receiving “blood transfusions at 2am” – Petracca moved to shut down suggestions that his family were disgruntled at the way the club handled his injuries, namely allowing him back on the field for a brief period of the match.
Nine’s Caroline Wilson reported that Petracca’s loved ones were “frustrated” with the club’s inaction and inability to make a solid decision on allowing him to play on or not.
“Absolutely (they were upset) and frustrated at the club. I think it’s more what happened in the days that followed. There was certainly a feeling from the Petracca family the club could’ve done things better,” Wilson revealed on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“I think it all dates back to the decision to put him back on the ground.”
But Petracca denied the claims.
“Not really, to be honest,” Petracca said when asked if his family were angered with the club.
“During the situation, it was heightened emotion for everyone, not just my family, but my fiancée and myself.”
Petracca did however admit that there was “a little degree of frustration” as he lay in a hospital bed with serious internal injuries.
“What you’ve got to understand is that my parents and my fiancée were the only people that could see me in ICU,” he said.
“There’s probably a little degree of frustration and emotion to it, because they’re the only ones that knew the severity of the injury … and they saw me (and) that I needed blood transfusions at 2am.”
The Demons managed to overcome North Melbourne by just three points in round 15, their first game back from their bye, and first without Petracca in the middle.