‘I haven’t’: Demons president’s Petracca admission

Melbourne Demons president Kate Roffey has admitted she has not spoken directly with Christian Petracca about his issues at the club.
Petracca has been the subject of intense speculation with reports he’s signalled his intention to leave for another Victorian club.
The Demons star hasn’t played since his terrifying season-ending injury that he has recently revealed left him with a near-death experience.
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Christian Petracca watches on from the bench.  AFL Photos via Getty Images
Speaking to SEN, Roffey denied the club and player were involved in a “stand-off” but admitted Petracca is going through an “incredibly difficult time”.
“It is a traumatic experience,” she said.
“So what he’s been through is significantly traumatic, and now what’s playing out in the media is very difficult for him as well. So we’ve got our arms around him. We’re not sitting there not talking to him, and we’re not sitting there not helping him find a way through this. We’re sitting there working with him to find a way through this unbelievably traumatic experience for him.”
Asked about Petracca’s preference to play elsewhere, Roffey said: “I haven’t spoken directly to him about that” before explaining his “wishes” have been discussed with the football department.
Much of the Demons star’s frustrations have reportedly been around how he was treated by the club during his time initially recovering from his injuries after the Collingwood match.
Petracca was helped off in agony. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Roffey attempted to clear up how much of a role Melbourne could play in his recovery.
“So, I again, I’ve read some bits and pieces about this in the media. I have no idea where that information came from, and I’ve no idea what specifically that is referring to, so I won’t comment on the specific … what I will say is that when you’re in intensive care, you can’t pop in and visit,” she said.
“Like I said, I’ve been in there, you get one person who’s allowed to come in. So you can’t do that. In terms of the medical care, you go into the system as a patient of the Victorian health system.
“And so we’re not in direct contact with him for medical care at that point in time, that’s happening through his doctors. And so we have to find out, you know, further down the line, what’s happening, what’s required of us, what we need to do. So I’m not sure, again, as I say in the media, a lot of this rhetoric around not enough was done, we need to actually sit down and go, ‘What wasn’t done? What would you have liked to have been done? If we didn’t do enough, you know, we can work through that and apologise’.”
The Melbourne president added Petracca is able to talk to her “anytime” while stating the situation is “absolutely” salvageable.
Throughout the interview, Roffey also admitted the club “had some issues” but does not need an external review.
“We’ve got some issues, absolutely. I’m heartbroken for our supporters because they don’t get to see our day-to-day operations at the club,” she said.
“Is there ever a club not in some kind of flux state? Like always, we’ll deal with it and get through it.”