Melbourne coach Steven King is refusing to let his playing group get sucked into the media attention surrounding former Demon and Gold Coast midfielder Christian Petracca.
The Suns utility has made headlines throughout the week for a verbal altercation with young teammate Leo Lombard in the team’s loss to Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Petracca never played under King, but the first-year Demons coach had nothing but praise for the midfielder on Wednesday morning.
King said he “hadn’t mentioned” the effect of Petracca going up against his former side.
“I’m sure (the players) will be excited to see him, he’s a champion of our club, and he’s had a great year,” King said.
“We know what he’s like at his best and how damaging he can be.”
King said he “hadn’t heard too much about” Petracca’s altercation with Lombard.
“I can’t answer questions about how people respond when they aren’t in our four walls,” he said.
“We’ll have to look at them as a total picture of them as a team.
“He’s one of their handful of players that we’ll need to curtail a little bit to go out there and win the four points.
“He’s a proud competitor and an elite player of the competition at his best, so that’s what we’ll be preparing for.”
Originally published as Melbourne coach Steven King shuts down talk of Christian Petracca drama