Melbourne midfielder Christian Petracca explains bizarre post-game antics

Melbourne Demons midfielder Christian Petracca has addressed the side’s bizarre post-game antics following Sunday afternoon’s victory over Carlton.

Footage from within the sheds showed rookie small forward Kade Chandler covered in milk during the Demons team song, with the 21-year-old struggling to get the liquid out of his hair and face.

Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Petracca responded by grabbing a water bottle and helping the youngster clean up.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Petracca suggested the club was continually striving to improve its culture, and pouring milk on teammates didn’t fall under that plan.

“I just think Gatorade showers are part of the game, but not milk,” Petracca said on Tuesday evening.

“Throwing water and Gatorade, fine, but I think milk goes a bit too far — our dietitian did a great job of providing protein shakes after the game.

“We addressed it after the game. We said if someone was to play their debut game, we’d probably do water or Gatorade, but milk is a bit too far.

“(Melbourne captain Max Gawn) just said, ‘That’s probably not good enough’. Then our property steward’s got to wash up the ground. Water’s fine to wash up, but probably not milk — probably stains the ground as well.

“As a culture we’re trying to constantly improve, and these little things might not seem like a lot, but those little one-percenters add up.”

READ MORE: Ex-coach reduced to tears by gun’s gesture

Last week, Petracca agreed to a mammoth contract extension with Melbourne, keeping him at the club through to 2029.

Petracca has played 110 games with the Demons since making his AFL debut in 2016, booting 103 goals.

He was Melbourne’s leading goal-kicker in 2019, becoming an All-Australian for the first time last year.

Petracca has reaches a new level this season, averaging 28.7 disposals and 7.2 inside 50s per game, putting him in the frame as a genuine contender to secure the coveted Brownlow Medal.

The Demons have started their 2021 campaign with nine consecutive wins, a feat the club has not achieved in 57 years.

Incredibly, the three most recent seasons where Melbourne started 9-0 were each Olympic years — 1964, 1960 and 1956 — and they won the premiership on each occasion.

The Demons will next face the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon, with the first bounce scheduled for 4.35pm AEST.