Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin remains confident that superstar Christian Petracca isn't going anywhere, insisting the club will give him time to recover following a traumatic period in his career.
Petracca addressed his teammates on Monday as speculation grew that he was considering his future at the Demons despite being contracted until the end of 2029, a step that was an important moment.
It is understood that the four-time All-Australian has become disgruntled after he suffered a lacerated spleen, punctured lung and four broken ribs when crunched by an accidental knee from Collingwood captain Darcy Moore in June, taking to the radio to express the fallout from the trauma, but has been quiet in recent weeks.
"With any trauma, it takes time," Goodwin said on Tuesday.
"But we've got all the time that we need for Christian.
"It's important for us to make sure he's really happy and healthy and feeling really invigorated about the game, and that's what we want for him."
Petracca's significance to the club is unquestionable, both on and off the field, with Goodwin confident he will remain in the red and blue until the end of his contract.
It also comes as the unlikelihood of a rival club's ability to facilitate a trade, with Melbourne, without a doubt, asking for at least three first-round selections if they were even entertaining the thought.
"Christian's going to be at this footy club for the next five years," Goodwin said.
"He's got five years to go on his contract, and he's going to be part of the red and blue.
"Part of this process is to give a greater, deeper level of understanding of what he's gone through and then to move forward together as one.
"That's the plan that we've all got ... to be fully connected and together as one, and Christian's going to be at the footy club for the next five years."
The 2021 Norm Smith medallist has been on the mend and has returned to light training duties, with the club looking to "build up" his load in the coming months.
"As the off-season unfolds, we'll certainly be in a position to start to build him up ... but it's a slow process," Goodwin continued.
"We'll listen to the experts, work closely with the doctors and the trauma specialists to get all the information that we need, but we're confident that he'll be ready to go come the start of pre-season (training)."
Melbourne heart-and-soul player Jack Viney's name has come up in trade talk following North Melbourne's Alastair Clarkson flagging he was a player the club would target.
When pressed on Tuesday, Goodwin quickly denied the potential of Viney moving, saying he was inching closer to a new deal, adding to the year still to run on his current contract.
"Look, it's something I wouldn't do, talk about players from other clubs and where they're at and what they're doing from a list management perspective," Goodwin said of Clarkson's comments.
"But every coach is a little bit different in that space.
"I think what it shows is the respect that people have for Jack Viney and the type of player and person that he is."
Throughout the turbulence, small forward Kysaiah Pickett is being watched closely by three clubs, with Port Adelaide "renewing" their interest.
Pickett last year re-signed at Melbourne for four years, but that hasn't stopped the Power from asking the question, while Adelaide and Fremantle are said to be keeping tabs also.
Melbourne will also try and cash in as much as they can from the Alex Neal-Bullen trade, who last week requested a move to South Australia for family reasons.
The Demons will finish off their disappointing 2024 season against Collingwood on Friday at the MCG, having missed out on a finals appearance that has been a constant across the past three campaigns.
