Melbourne champion Garry Lyon has come to the defence of Christian Petracca on the back of Nick Riewoldt’s suggestion that the Demons midfielder is still struggling with ‘mental demons’.
The St Kilda great said a worrying pattern had started to emerge in the wake of Petracca’s life-threatening spleen injury last year, with the 2021 Norm Smith Medalist beginning to shy away from putting his body on the line in recent contests.
Petracca, who missed half a season last year after rupturing his spleen in the King’s Birthday clash against Collingwood, was highlighted on film by Riewoldt on Monday's episode of The Agenda Setters after failing to go back with the flight of the ball during Sunday’s 25-point loss to Port Adelaide.
While no one is about to question the bravery of the four-time All-Australian, Lyon said there was no ‘great gain’ in Petracca needlessly asserting himself into aerial contests, while he also likened his path back to footy to that of Dustin Martin in 2021.
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“It’s very similar to what happened to Dustin Martin when he got cleaned up and came back,” Lyon said, referring to the kidney injury Martin sustained in a game against Brisbane. “He had to be a bit more choosy in the situations you put yourself in.”
In comparison, Martin missed the remainder of the season and struggled to regain his career-best form the next year, averaging just over 18 touches before ultimately announcing his retirement last season.
Garry Lyon isn't concerned about Christian Petracca's commitment to the footy after Nick Riewoldt's Agenda Setters comments. @SENBreakfast | #AFL pic.twitter.com/zaA4e18VLF
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) June 17, 2025
Petracca, meanwhile, has played in all 14 games for Melbourne since returning, averaging just over 25 disposals and nearly four tackles a game.
Despite his steady form though, Lyon’s co-host Tim Watson sided with Riewoldt, going as far as suggesting Petracca isn’t close to the player he once was.
“I don’t look at him now and think that he’s the same player that he was prior to that injury,” Watson said. “I just think that there might still be some mental demons around what he went through, and that’s completely understandable.”
Coach Simon Goodwin brushed aside similar questions post-game on Sunday, saying Petracca was still wanting to be an aerial player and that the injury is something he’s put in the past.
With the Dees on the bye this week before returning for a tough away game against the Suns in Round 16, the extra seven days might be the reset Petracca and the rest of the team needs following a big two weeks in the headlines.