Christian Petracca: Back Training After Season-Ending Injuries

Melbourne Demons star Christian Petracca is finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel after a frustrating recovery from season-ending internal injuries.

The popular midfielder has been in hospital since suffering the injuries, which have been compared to those of a car crash victim. He is now able to introduce some light exercise into his day-to-day routine, but must keep his heart rate below 110.

“It’s been a tough seven to eight weeks now, with the injury and obviously the mental and physical side of things,” Petracca said. “I’ve been working a lot over the last seven weeks with my psych and just trying to focus on other things in my life that give me great perspective and great positiveness.”

Petracca will help launch Ralph Lauren’s new scent on Saturday by participating in the Polo 67 Run Club with 300 other runners. He joked that he would likely only run the first kilometer before bowing out.

When asked which fellow ambassadors would leave others in the dust, he quipped: “Nathan Freeman. He’s an ex-AFL player and he was a very fast guy.”

Petracca’s return to training is a positive sign for the Demons, who have struggled in his absence. He is expected to be back to full fitness in time for the start of the 2025 season.