Damien Hardwick torched for ‘bizarre’ Christian Petracca comment amid ‘downturn in form’

Damien Hardwick’s effort to absolve star midfielder Christian Petracca of blame for his own “downturn in form” was “bizarre”.

That’s according to The Agenda Setters’ Kane Cornes, who says the AFL industry is “too soft” to call out players who deserve criticism.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Christian Petracca battling for form as coach gives ‘bizarre’ assessment

Petracca was one of the form players of the competition in the first two third of the season, and particularly in the opening few rounds, when he rediscovered the blistering form that made him a Norm Smith medallist for Melbourne in 2021.

Since Round 16 though, the 30-year-old has spent just 37 per cent of his game time as a midfielder and averaged less than 20 disposals per game.

Champion Data had Petracca ranked as the competition’s sixth best player up until Round 16. In the weeks since then, he is ranked 195th.

“He’s had a bit of a downturn in form,” Hardwick admitted after the Suns’ loss to Brisbane on Saturday.

“I’ve got to find how I can best use him, and it’s up to me to figure it out.

“We’ve had some really good conversations, he will do whatever I want for the benefit of the team.

“His legacy to me is to help us change the fortunes of the Gold Coast Suns, and he’s pulling his part in that.

“I think I’ve got to get better at utilising him to his absolute strengths. I haven’t found that right lever yet. We had it at the start of the year, but it’s drifted off a bit.

”One thing I will say is our communication with each other is very good so we will work through that.”

Cornes was baffled by Hardwick’s attempt to deflect blame from the player himself.

“It was the most bizarre thing that I saw on the weekend,” Cornes told The Agenda Setters on Monday night.