AFL trade controversy involving Christian Petracca takes a new turn following Melbourne Demons’ declaration.READ MORE…

The news follows Melbourne’s declaration that the superstar was not going anywhere,

Christian Petracca could be edging towards crunch talks with Melbourne Demons powerbrokers amid fresh reports he wants to leave the AFL club. Demons CEO Gary Pert wrote an open letter to the club’s fans last week to assure them they have no plans to release Petracca from a lucrative long-term contract that still has another five years to run. It came in response to a report from Nine’s Tom Morris that the premiership winner wants out of the club.

Morris reported Petracca had become disillusioned with the direction the Demons were going in and claimed he would seek a trade away from the club if he didn’t have so long to run on his current deal. But a defiant Pert hit back by claiming Petracca remains a vital part of the club’s future and that he would “remain in the red and blue until at least the end of his contract and hopefully beyond.”

The Demons had seemingly put the trade speculation to bed but Morris has now doubled down on his initial report and told Nine’s Footy Furnace on Sunday night that the star midfielder still very much “wants to go”. The AFL admitted it was unclear at this stage whether Petracca would formally submit a trade request with the Demons but indicated that it could be on the cards.