‘As serious as it gets’: Fears for superstar’s season as horror extent of ‘car-crash-like’ injuries revealed

There are fears Demons star Christian Petracca won’t play again this season after sustaining serious injuries during Monday’s King’s Birthday loss to Collingwood.

Petracca moved from Epworth hospital to The Alfred on Monday night and underwent surgery after suffering four broken ribs, a lacerated spleen and a partially punctured lung, having spent recent days in an intensive care unit.

Chief Channel 9 reporter Tom Morris on Footy Classified provided the latest on the “really serious situation,” revealing Petracca appeared so unwell on Monday that Magpies players recommended he exit the game.

“He had a blood transfusion, the surgery was so serious there were fears at one point he would lose his spleen,” Morris said on the program.

“He was diagnosed with a grade five spleen laceration — there’s no grade six — that’s as serious as it gets.

“From a football perspective, it is highly unlikely he plays again this season. I’m told the best case scenario is 10 to 12 weeks, which takes us to the end of the home and away season.

“Don’t underestimate the seriousness of what’s going on — his injuries are comparable to a car crash victim’s.”

Demons football boss Alan Richardson said Petracca was “in good spirits” and “making positive strides in his recovery,” expected to be moved from ICU to a general ward by Thursday morning and discharged from hospital in the coming days.

While Melbourne’s handling of the matter on game day has been questioned after allowing Petracca to re-enter the match, Richardson assured that the club followed the right processes.

“I want to make it clear that we have full confidence in how our medical team responded and the procedures they followed. Their expertise and swift actions have been crucial in managing Christian’s injury and subsequent recovery,” he said.

Petracca took so social media on Monday night to take responsibility for returning to the field and to defend the Demons medicos.

“I’m responsible for putting myself out there by the way for people talking about the medicos,” Petracca commented in response to Melbourne’s injury update.

The Demons have a bye this week before facing North Melbourne on the other side of it.