The future of North was at the front of Drew Petrie’s mind.
“I’d hate to get in the way of the future of this footy club,” Petrie said on Friday, in his first words since he was told of the club’s decision not to re-contract him for 2017.
“I want the club to thrive now and I want the club to thrive throughout the next generation.
“If the club doesn’t see me as a part of that, then I’m absolutely fine with that and I’m happy to step aside and make sure this club can be finals contenders for the next five years as well.”
While the time for farewells will eventually come, ideally in more than a month’s time, the Giants are the only thing Petrie is thinking about at the moment.
“I don’t think the full magnitude of this being my last season has hit me yet, but that’s because we’ve got a game this weekend and our third finals series in a row to contend in.
“That’s where the focus is at the moment for me. There’s hasn’t been any tears roll down my cheek yet, but maybe when I walk off the ground for the last time that might occur.
“For the moment I’m very much in game mode and focused on the task.”
Reflecting on when he was told the news, Petrie painted a very simple picture.
“The conversation (with Brad Scott) was just that, it was a conversation and it wasn’t anything that I couldn’t handle or wasn’t prepared for.
“The club’s been really respectful with the way they’ve treated me over 16 seasons.
And the 33-year-old spoke in depth about how the North coach had helped his career flourish.
“Brad’s been fantastic for me, seven years as my coach he’s supported me every single season.
“Throughout this year when I wasn’t going so well he supported me, he had my back.
“He’s been enormous for my career and he’s allowed me to play as a permanent forward in the last six or seven seasons.
“I sort of got thrown around a little bit in the middle part of my career, but to settle in one position, I can’t emphasize how good Brad’s been for my career.”
In the firestorm of media coverage since Wednesday morning’s announcement, opinions have been varied.
One relatively common theme has disappointed Petrie, who would have changed it if he could.
“The part (about the last few days) I’d like to change is the unfair way Brad’s been treated.
“The way the media has reported this decision and the backlash from small pockets of North Melbourne people has been poor.
“I’m really disappointed that’s the case. I hope on Saturday night North Melbourne fans get out there to support this footy club, support Brad and support all the players.
“Brad’s got the best interests of the club at heart and he’s planning for now and the future.
“The way that he was treated this week was poor, and I’d change that if I could.
“99 per cent of North fans are rippers and those small pockets can hang their head in shame if they decide to behave like they do tomorrow night."
For now, it’s all focus on the Giants and the finals.
“The club trained really well on Wednesday, and we had a good session then (Friday morning). The energy’s really good,” Petrie explained.
“The four of us have been taking the mickey out of each other about how we’re no good at anything other than football, so our life after footy doesn’t look too bright.
“After the initial 24 hours of it all sinking in, around the footy club there’s a lot of mickey being taken out of each other.”
