Christian Petracca has laughed off suggestions his push to leave Melbourne had anything to do with a desire to grow his own personal brand.
The 2021 Norm Smith Medallist was traded to Gold Coast in the off-season, ending his time with the Demons, after initially requesting a trade in 2024.
When the bombshell story was revealed in 2024 that Petracca wanted out to join Carlton or Collingwood, Footy Classified’s Sam McClure stated one of the key reasons was his desire to play in front of big crowds and “enhance his brand to boost off-field earnings”.
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Christian Petracca during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session. Getty
No trade eventuated, but 12 months on Petracca got his way and chose the Suns as his preferred destination.
However, the ‘brand Petracca’ tag has lingered ever since that initial report. The 30-year-old, who is managed by his wife Bella, runs his own cooking account on Instagram and Tik Tok.
He admits it frustrates him hearing suggestions that it had anything to do with his trade requests.
“I think it does frustrate me a little bit this whole ‘brand Petracca’ thing. I don’t know where this has come from,” he told reporters on Monday.
“I think if anything we should be promoting and celebrating players for having something away from football.
“The average career length is four and half years, so having something away from footy is really important to me and I’ve found my cooking stuff has had a direct correlation with my performance.
“I think it’s been really important for me. The more I’ve tipped into that, the better I’ve played football.
“I think some of the comments about me wanting to leave because of the cooking channel are kind of laughable to be honest. I’ve always put my best foot forward with footy and that’s always been my number one priority.”
Christian Petracca’s cooking channel via Instagram. Instagram
Petracca had a decent season in 2025, but well below his absolute best, likely in part because he was coming off the horror King’s Birthday injury that ended his 2024 season.
He broke ribs, punctured his lung and suffered a lacerated spleen in the game and needed emergency surgery days later due to complications.
Now entering 2026, Petracca said life on the Gold Coast has helped him find his best mental state to play footy.
“It’s been amazing for me (living on the Gold Coast),” Petracca said.
“I’ve really enjoyed just being here. Being a professional athlete, it suits that lifestyle of being up early and in bed early.
“I’m off my phone a lot more, I’m outside, I’m fishing, I’m crabbing which has been really good.
Christian Petracca fishing with teammate Wil Powell. Instagram
“I’m a lot more present, being down at the beach more and out in the sun, so it’s been good.
“I do feel like from an off-field point of view it’s the most present and the healthiest I’ve felt mentally for quite a while, to be honest.
“Whether that’s being here versus being in Melbourne, I’m not too sure, but I feel like the last few months has been awesome for my wife and I and the club has been incredible.”
Gold Coast will host St Kilda on Thursday in an unofficial scratch match, which will likely be our first look at Petracca in Suns colours.
They will then play Brisbane in an AAMI Community Series game on February 26.