Kysaiah Pickett facts for kids

Kysaiah Klem Paul Kropinyeri-Pickett (/kaɪˈzeɪə/ ky-ZAY-ə; commonly known as Kysaiah Pickett, born 2 June 2001) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A forward, he is 1.71 metres (5 ft 7 in) tall and weighs 72 kilograms (159 lb).

Pickett is the nephew of former Demons players Neville Jetta and Byron Pickett.

He was nominated for the 2020 AFL Rising Star award in round 11 of the 2020 AFL season.

Early life

Pickett was born on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia but raised in Quairading, Western Australia before returning to South Australia with his uncle, former AFL player Byron Pickett. Initially, he played junior football with Port District in Largs Bay, before boarding at Prince Alfred College where he was part of the school's 1st XVIII, and was regarded as one of the most exciting players in the private school football system. Pickett played his senior football in Adelaide with Woodville-West Torrens as a small forward in 2019 and also selected in South Australia's Under 18 team. He was predicted to go high in the draft and Melbourne, his uncle Byron's last AFL club, announced its intention to recruit him.

Pickett was selected by Melbourne with the 12th overall pick in the 2019 AFL Draft which it received from Fremantle. Pickett was the club's second pick taken by Melbourne behind Luke Jackson.

AFL Career

Pickett made his AFL debut in Round 1, 2020 against West Coast, at Perth Stadium.

He played 14 games in his debut season earning a Rising Star nomination in round 11 following Melbourne's 57-point win over North Melbourne, where Pickett kicked 9 goal 2 behinds and had 12 possessions.

In June 2020, Pickett was suspended for one match for breaching AFL COVID-19 protocols after he and teammate Charlie Spargo travelled via an Uber to an unauthorised house for a gathering.

In 2021, Pickett played all 25 of Melbourne's games through their finals campaign. Pickett earned a premiership medal as Melbourne won the Grand Final, though he was held to four possessions and three tackles in the game.

In 2022, Pickett played 23 games for Melbourne kicking 41 goals, missing only Melbourne's round 7 game against Hawthorn due to Health and Safety protocols.

In 2023, Pickett kicked four goals in Melbourne's opening game of the season against the Western Bulldogs, but was suspended two games for a high bump on Bulldogs player Bailey Smith.

In September 2023 Pickett was handed a one-match ban by the Match Review Officer's verdict after a head-high hit on Patrick Cripps that left the superstar Carlton captain bloodied.

In 2024 Pickett received a third suspension in just over a year for head high contact.

Statistics

Updated to the end of 2024.