Damien Hardwick, 'scary' young gun stirring fire in Christian Petracca's belly

Christian Petracca said in his first media commitment in Gold Coast Suns colours that the opportunity to play under Damien Hardwick and in a midfield contingent with stars like Brownlow Medal winner Matt Rowell had enticed him to the club.

Petracca also said he was eager to link up with the "raw" and "scary" Bailey Humphrey, who unsuccessfully agitated for an exit during the trade period.

Humphrey, who's contracted to the Suns until the end of 2028, met with several Victorian clubs, including Petracca's former club, Melbourne, and riled Gold Coast chiefs with cheeky Instagram activity.

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But Gold Coast list boss Craig Cameron was resolute, stating publicly that the 21-year-old would not be traded and labelling him "impetuous".

Petracca — a four-time All-Australian and the Norm Smith Medallist in Melbourne's 2021 grand final triumph — was traded from the Demons to the Suns in return for a host of draft picks, including this year's No.7 and No.8 and Gold Coast's 2026 first-round selection.

Infuriated with the Demons over how they dealt with his life-threatening injuries during the 2024 season, Petracca pushed hard for a move in last year's trade period.

But the Demons insisted last year that Petracca, who was contracted to Melbourne until the end of 2029, would not be traded.

Steven King has since replaced Simon Goodwin as coach, and the rebuilding Demons were offered a bundle of draft picks they could not turn down.

"I think for me, [coach] 'Dimma' Hardwick was really impressive," Petracca said when asked what had lured him to the Suns.

"I sat down with [assistant coach] Sean Grigg and got clarity on my role and what it looks like, and from the moment I walked in here everyone's made me feel really valued and respected. Touk Miller, Jarrod Witts, guys came to the club and made us feel welcome.

"And I guess every year you see the Suns getting better and better, and I want to be part of something special."

Coached by Hardwick and skippered by Noah Anderson, the Suns played finals footy this season for the first time in their 15-year existence.

They defeated Fremantle by one point in the west in their elimination final, then were knocked out by Brisbane on the Lions' run to consecutive flags.

Petracca will join a star-studded midfield group featuring Rowell, Anderson and Miller as the Suns aim for a deeper run next year.

"It's pretty crazy when you look [at] some of my teammates who will be in the midfield with me — Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell and Touk Miller, as well, who I played a bit of footy with growing up," Petracca said.

"So it's pretty special.

"Hopefully I can bring something to them, but I can learn off them.

"What they're building is just special, led by Noah Anderson, who's an incredible captain.

"So I'm just really grateful to be part of this.

"The culture of the Suns is why I came here, too. What they're building with 'Dimma' [and chief executive] Mark Evans is special, and we want to create something like a Suns family. We're all in this together."

Humphrey irritated Gold Coast bosses when he posted a picture on Instagram early in the trade period accompanied with the caption "I'M FROM MOE", along with John Denver's soundtrack Take Me Home, Country Roads.

"It is unusual," Cameron, Gold Coast's list boss, said on AFL Trade Radio at the time.

"I have been around a while, and I haven't seen a situation play out like this before, to be honest. It was a bit odd.

"It's the way of the world at the moment; players think they can get out in contract and that the grass is greener somewhere else. It's just not gonna happen."

Petracca said he was "incredibly excited" to plug away with Humphrey, who's played 63 games with the Suns since landing on the Gold Coast via pick six in the 2022 draft.

Humphrey, like Petracca, is an explosive midfielder/forward.

"[He] reminds me of myself when I was at that age: raw, but, you know, came fourth in the best and fairest, too, so [it was] basically a breakout year, which is pretty scary considering how [many] more levels he can get to," Petracca said.

"We had a phone call the other day about his role and how excited I am to just play with him and learn actually off him ... and how explosive he is."