Melbourne star Christian Petracca is reportedly open to joining an interstate club this off-season, should the Demons give their gun midfielder the green light to depart.
Petracca's well-documented 2024 campaign saw the Norm Smith Medal winner express his frustrations with the club. It was understood he was assessing his options on the open market behind closed doors.
The 29-year-old reportedly expressed an interest in joining a large Victorian club, with both Collingwood and Carlton having a mutual interest in the former Pick 2 selection.
However, neither club had the trade capital to appease the Demons in a deal, with Petracca returning to Melbourne for the 2025 season with a further four years left on his contract.
According to 9 News' Tom Morris, Petracca is believed to be "open to non-Victorian clubs" this year, with contending clubs in the Crows, Suns and Swans in the mix.
Petracca has not requested a trade to leave the Demons, but the club is reportedly more open to parting ways with their premiership star.
"Christian Petracca, last year, had his eyes firmly fixed on big Victorian clubs; Collingwood, Carlton and the like. This year it's different," Morris reported on Monday night.
"Hawthorn was his preference before the Zach Merrett situation unfolded. He is open to non-Victorian clubs. I'm talking about Adelaide, Gold Coast and Sydney.
"Melbourne, unlike last year, is open to the right deal, although they won't declare it that publicly.
"All parties are tiptoeing towards this carefully. Petracca doesn't want to be seen as banging the table, and the Demons at every opportunity have stopped short og guaranteeing their Norm Smith medallist will be at the club in 2026."
Adelaide could be favoured among the three clubs given they don't have ties to top-rated Academy players in this year's draft crop.
The Crows' opening draft selection won't come until at least Pick 14 this year, while the Suns hold three first-round picks and the Swans have a top 10 selection.
Both Sydney and Gold Coast could also be tied up in negotiations for wantaway Carlton forward Charlie Curnow, who is believed to be seeking a move away from the Blues.
Several Victorian clubs will still be in the mix for Petracca's services, with Carlton likely to have multiple first-round picks for this year's draft alone due to the departures of free agents Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni.
A sticking point for Collingwood last year was that the club didn't have their first-round pick, which is the case again in 2025 after they traded that selection to the Suns.
Hawthorn's interest in Petracca could be reignited should a decision that sees Zach Merrett remain a Bomber unfold.
