MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 24: Christian Petracca of the Demons looks dejected after losing the round five AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 24, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Melbourne are trying to swing momentum back in their favour as they look to end a 12-year finals drought, and Christian Petracca is the key to that happening according to North Melbourne great David King.

After an impressive run to start the season, the Demon's have dropped off in the last months and now look to be on their way out of the top eight.

It's been a shocking month of footy for the Dees as they've dropped games to Collingwood, Port Adelaide and St Kilda.

As the team has struggled, so too has their star 22-year-old Petracca. King believes the Dee's second overall pick in the 2014 draft needs to step up and be the man.

“I think it is time, in a star driven competition, for Christian Petracca to say, ‘Come with me’,” King said on AFL 360 on Wednesday night.

“We’ve seen enough, we’ve heard enough. He’s been likened to Robbie Gray — Robbie Gray has kicked 24 goals this year. Jordan De Goey has gone past him playing the exact same role.

“I think it is time for Christian to put Melbourne on his back a little bit and say come with me, not sit behind the Jesse Hogan feedback, and what’s going on with McDonald? What’s going on down back?

“It is a star driven competition and it is time for Christian to stand up.”