27 Facts About Christian Petracca

Christian Petracca is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League.

Christian Petracca had a standout junior basketball career where he played in the Victorian under-16 side and he was named in the Australian under-18 squad.

Christian Petracca entered top-level football early when he played for Victoria at under-12 level and he represented them throughout his junior career, culminating in selection for Vic Metro in the 2014 AFL Under 18 Championships.

Christian Petracca was recruited by Melbourne with the second selection in the 2014 AFL draft.

Christian Petracca made his AFL debut in 2016 after missing all of 2015 with a knee injury and received an AFL Rising Star nomination in round 9.

Christian Petracca was born to Elvira and Tony Christian Petracca on 4 January 1996 and is of Italian heritage.

Christian Petracca was recognised as an adept footballer at a young age when he represented Victoria at under-12 level.

Christian Petracca played his junior football with the Park Orchards Sharks, Warrandyte Bloods and Beverley Hills Junior Football Club.

Christian Petracca played for his school Whitefriars in the ACC school competition.

Christian Petracca's leadership was recognised at a young age when he was named co-captain of the Victorian Primary Schools basketball side.

Christian Petracca featured in the under-16 Victorian basketball side and was selected in the Australian under-17 squad alongside 2014 NBA number-five draft pick and Dallas Mavericks player, Dante Exum.

Christian Petracca attended Whitefriars College, completing year 12 in 2013 and was named as the captain of their football side in the same year.

Christian Petracca was a bottom-aged player with the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup during 2013 playing as a forward and he finished with 41 goals from 17 matches, including six against the Geelong Falcons in round nine and five in the preliminary final, against the Geelong Falcons.

Christian Petracca was named as one of the best players in the 92-point grand final victory against the Dandenong Stingrays, finishing with two goals and twenty-one disposals and ended the season as the Eastern Ranges leading goalkicker whilst tying for second place in the best and fairest count.

Christian Petracca received mid-year honours through selection as a bottom-aged player for Vic Metro in the 2013 AFL Under 18 Championships, and played in one match, the opening round match against Queensland where he was named as one of the best players.

Christian Petracca played for and captained the Victoria GAA minor gaelic football side at the 2013 Australasian Gaelic Games in which he garnered player of the tournament honours.

Christian Petracca played nine matches for the season finishing with 20 goals and ended the season with a tied third-place finish in the Morrish Medal and was named on the half-forward flank in the TAC Cup team of the year.

Christian Petracca was again selected for Vic Metro in the Under 18 Championships playing a midfield, on-ball role.

Christian Petracca played five out of six matches and was named in the best players in every match, where he averaged twenty-five disposals, five marks and five clearances per match.

Christian Petracca's move into the midfield during 2014 proved he had the ability to play in both the forward-line and midfield, along with an increase in his endurance, this saw him described as the "most dominant player in the draft" by AFL Media journalist, Callum Twomey.

Christian Petracca was predicted to play in the opening round of 2015 due to having an "AFL ready body"; however, his season ended abruptly after rupturing his ACL in his left knee at training in February.

Christian Petracca ultimately made his debut in round six against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in a 39-point loss, and there was strong hype surrounding his debut; however, his performance in his debut was labelled as a glimpse of his potential by News Corp Australia journalists Adam Baldwin and Jay Clark.

Christian Petracca went on to play every match for the season and throughout the season, the media continued to ponder on the type of player Christian Petracca could become.

Christian Petracca was named the best player on the ground for the annual Queen's Birthday clash in the four point win over Collingwood, in which he recorded eighteen disposals, seven marks and three goals and won the Neale Daniher Trophy after receiving eight out of a possible nine votes.

Christian Petracca was praised for his performance in the match by Chris Judd who stated Petracca's acceleration was "elite".

In 2021, Christian Petracca starred in Melbourne's 2021 Grand Final victory with a 39-disposal game, Melbourne's first premiership in 57 years.

Christian Petracca equalled Simon Black's record for most disposals in a grand final and won the prestigious Norm Smith medal for his best-on-ground performance.