Melbourne captain Max Gawn has revealed he has sent an apology to his seriously injured teammate Christian Petracca.
Petracca is currently in isolation and recovering at home after having surgery on a Grade 5 lacerated spleen and suffering other frightening internal injuries during last Monday’s King’s Birthday clash.
The controversy around the incident continues with Petracca’s family reportedly unhappy with how Melbourne handled the situation.
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After Collingwood captain Darcy Moore cannoned into the back of Petracca late in the first term of the game, Petracca surprisingly returned to the field.
That decision has come under fire with Petracca, 28, originally taking to social media to say he took responsibility for the call, but later deleting his post.
Petracca also raised eyebrows by announcing on his own Instagram page that his season was over (typically, clubs break that news with an official statement), with some reporters suggesting he took matters into his owns due to his “frustration” with the club.
Now, Gawn has said he had to apologise to Petracca, too, after giving his mate a spray during the game.
“He actually came out in the second quarter and he put in not the best effort I’ve seen (from) Trac (Petracca) …,” Gawn said on Triple M’s Marty Sheargold Show.
“And I went and had a word to him … and now there’s real egg on my face. He was out there dying.”
Gawn said he was a little embarrassed by the scenario.
“I was telling him to lift! I’ve apologised to him since,” he said.
Gawn said it was a traumatic injury and Petracca “looked in a lot of pain”.
“To be fair, I’ve seen people with a cracked ribbed and they are in as much pain. I’m presuming it was very difficult to diagnose that it was a genuine internal injury like that,” he said.
“No one is allowed to see him (at the moment due to concerns around infection).
“He’s going well. No one is allowed to see him because of his immune system – spleen related.
“All I know is we don’t have him for a long time.
“I daresay if we’re in the pointy end – I’m talking prelim or grand final – it’s going to be hard to say he can’t play.”
It has been reported that Melbourne’s football manager Alan Richardson went to see Petracca in hospital on the first night he was admitted but was prevented from entering the patient’s room.
In a statement last Tuesday afternoon, Melbourne said Petracca’s pain “increased at half-time” and, “despite assessing relatively well”, he was only sent to hospital as a precaution.
“Obviously, Christian’s health is the number one priority for us at the moment,” Richardson said.
“The next few weeks will be crucial, and we’ll be monitoring his progress closely to make sure he heals properly and fully.
“He’s obviously an extremely important player for the team, but his health and recovery are our top priorities right now.”