Melbourne Demon Player Christian Petracca Announced His Retirement Due To His…

Findings from the AFL and AFL Players Association’s review into Christian Petracca’s 2024 Kings Birthday injuries are close.

It’s been 12 months since Petracca suffered severe internal injuries against Collingwood, sparking an investigation into Melbourne’s handling of the incident.

Petracca suffered a lacerated spleen, punctured lung and cracked ribs but was allowed to return to the field of play, with the superstar reported to have expressed disappointment in his club’s handling of the incident in the aftermath.

We’ve got a panel that has been convened and appointed between the AFL and AFLPA; they’ve got together and decided who they want on that panel.

“They’re working through details on that review, at the moment, for immediate changes — simple fixes they can make tomorrow to make players safer on the field.

“Obviously, we know this all stems from Petracca’s nasty incident that put him in hospital on King’s Birthday last year. We’re expecting findings from that reasonably soon.”

Barnes explained the follow-on effect, with the league set to assess procedures from codes across the globe — meaning that while Petracca findings are coming, the investigation itself will “stretch out”.

“The second part, we might be going global — they’re going to be looking at sports across the world,” he continued.

“Potentially in the United States, where they’re a lot quicker on their MRIs at games in the NFL, that sort of thing. They’ll be canvassing that and seeing what they can do to bring that in.

“It’s the second part that comes after they look at the immediate things. So, it’s going to be stretching out even longer.”

Herald Sun colleague Jon Ralph added: “Some of it would take millions and millions of dollars … maybe somewhere like the MCG could consider that, as something that could bring in revenue as well.”