Fears growing Pickett will leave Demons the longer he remains unsigned

AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich expects Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett to attract headlines across the 2023 season.

While some will come from his on-field exploits, much of the story surrounding the 21-year-old will focus on his future as he remains unsigned beyond the 2023 campaign.

Although reports suggest Pickett is happy at the Demons, Gabelich says there’s genuine fears the South Australian could push for a trade home - with Port Adelaide interested in his services - much like former teammate Luke Jackson did.

“Kozzie Pickett is going to be the story regardless of how he goes on the field,” Gabelich told SEN WA The Run Home.

“That’ll be until he signs that contract with Melbourne, the longer it goes on, the greater the fears are he’ll follow in Luke Jackson’s footsteps.

“We all know what happened there and they were both taken in the first-round of that year’s draft.”

While speculation surrounds the youngster it doesn’t seem to be affecting his on-field performance as Pickett looked sharp in Melbourne’s unofficial practice match win over St Kilda.

As well as kicking two goals, Pickett spent time in the middle where Gabelich said he looked “clean and explosive” in bursts.

“But Kozzie Pickett, we’ve seen him across the summer trialled as a midfielder in short, small bursts, six or seven minutes,” Gabelich said.

“He did the same tonight (Friday) and just looked so clean and so explosive around stoppage.

“He gives them a bit more pace in there, he hit the scoreboard with a couple of goals, he was really impressive.”

Pickett and the Demons will continue their preparation for Round 1 when they face Richmond in a practice match at Casey Fields on Sunday.