Melbourne Star Petracca Suffers Serious Injuries in King's Birthday Clash

Melbourne Demons star midfielder Christian Petracca suffered a series of serious injuries during the club's King's Birthday clash against Collingwood. The incident occurred near quarter-time when Petracca received a knee to the side from Collingwood's Darcy Moore in a marking contest.

Petracca was in evident pain and required immediate medical attention. He was able to return to the field briefly, but it later became clear that he was experiencing significant discomfort. Scans revealed the full extent of the damage, including a lacerated spleen, a punctured lung, and four broken ribs.

Petracca underwent a procedure to stop internal bleeding and remains in hospital for observation and recovery. The club is still working on a return-to-play timeline for the four-time All-Australian.

"Obviously, Christian's health is the number one priority for us at the moment," said Melbourne's football boss Alan Richardson. "The next few weeks will be crucial, and we'll be monitoring his progress closely to make sure he heals properly and fully."

The injury is a significant blow to the Demons, who are currently sitting 10th on the ladder with a 7-6 record. The team will face a challenging schedule in the coming weeks, with games against North Melbourne, Brisbane, West Coast, and Essendon.

Daicos Suffers Leg Knock but Expected to Play Next Week

Collingwood's Nick Daicos was subbed out in the last quarter of the match due to a leg knock. He had a relatively quiet game with only 15 disposals, his lowest output this season.

However, Magpies coach Craig McRae does not expect Daicos to miss any games. He is expected to be available for the team's next match against North Melbourne next Sunday.

"He got tagged heavily and then he got a corky in his shin, so he will be fine," said McRae.