Call for rule change that could stop ‘biggest deal ever’

The AFL’s decision to delay a rule change until 2025 looks set to scupper any monster deal this year involving disgruntled Melbourne star Christian Petracca.

This is his opinion AFL.com.auCal Twomey’s trade expert who says it is unlikely clubs will be able to offer enough draft picks to lure the four-time All-Australian from the Demons this off-season.

Earlier this month, the AFL announced a number of changes to trade and draft rules, including allowing clubs to trade draft picks two years into the future. However, the rule won’t take effect until 2025, meaning clubs can only trade picks a year into the future during the October trade period.

Twomey believes a rival club would likely have to offer up to three first-round picks for Melbourne to even consider the Petracca trade, a suite of picks that is difficult to stockpile under current rules.

“The AFL’s decision to wait to extend future deals by two years until 2025 has potentially stalled the biggest deal ever,” Twomey said. Gettable this week.

“Christian Petracca’s commercial options are very limited as clubs simply don’t have enough capital to do a deal.

“He was unhappy, he was unhappy and rival clubs have been aware of that for many weeks. But it seems so hard to see how any club could reach a deal with five years left on their contract and Melbourne holding the whip there. .

“He hasn’t met any clubs yet and I don’t think he would officially request a trade unless (a rival club) could show that something could happen. Not having an extra year of upcoming elections to dig into. make this very, very difficult.

“(Under the 2025 rules) a club could have proposed three first-rounders for him, which would have changed the conversation.”

An off-season move for Petracca looks unlikely at this stage, with Twomey adding that the 28-year-old would only consider a move in the future if a major Victorian club made a play for him.

“I think there are only four clubs that could actually be legitimate options for him this year, next year or in the future; Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood or Hawthorn,” Twomey said.

“Will he leave Victoria? I don’t think so. Will he go to a club with a smaller fan base than Melbourne? I don’t think so. Will he want to play in big games? I would have thought so.

“Ultimately, I don’t think any club has the leverage to start the conversation at the moment.

“The AFL’s decision to push this (rule) change further has made it very difficult for this deal to happen (this year).”

Petracca addressed his team-mates this week after a tumultuous season for the 2021 premiers, which included a traumatic season-ending injury to their star player on King’s birthday.

The Norm Smith Medal winner is contracted to Melbourne until the end of 2029 and coach Simon Goodwin reiterated this week that Petracca’s future is with the Demons.

“Christian will be at this football club for the next five years,” Goodwin said.

“He has five years left on his contract and will be part of the red-blues.”