Kysaiah Pickett facts for kids

Kysaiah Pickett (born on June 2, 2001), often called Kozzy, is a professional Australian rules football player. He plays for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Kysaiah is a forward, which means he plays closer to the goal to score points. He is 171 cm (about 5 feet 7 inches) tall and weighs 73 kg.

Kysaiah is related to other famous football players. His uncles, Neville Jetta and Byron Pickett, also played for the Melbourne Demons. In 2020, Kysaiah was nominated for the 2020 AFL Rising Star award, which celebrates young, talented players.

Early Life and Junior Football

Kysaiah Pickett was born in South Australia. He spent some of his childhood in Western Australia. Later, he moved back to South Australia to live with his uncle, Byron Pickett.

Starting His Football Journey

• Kysaiah started playing junior football with the Port District Football Club.
• He then attended Prince Alfred College, a school known for its strong football program.
• He was considered one of the most exciting young players in school football.

Playing for Woodville-West Torrens

In 2019, Kysaiah played senior football for the Woodville-West Torrens team in Adelaide. He was a small forward and also played for South Australia's Under 18 team. Many people thought he would be picked early in the AFL draft. The Melbourne Football Club, where his uncle Byron used to play, was very interested in him.

Joining the AFL Draft

Melbourne chose Kysaiah Pickett as their 12th pick in the 2019 AFL Draft. He was the second player Melbourne picked that year.

Kysaiah's AFL Career

Kysaiah Pickett made his first AFL appearance in Round 1 of the 2020 season. He played against the West Coast Eagles at Perth Stadium.

First Season Highlights

• In his first year, Kysaiah played 14 games.
• He was nominated for the Rising Star award in Round 11. This happened after a great game where he scored 9 goals against North Melbourne.
• During 2020, Kysaiah and a teammate faced a short suspension. This was because they broke some of the AFL's rules for staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winning a Premiership

• In 2021, Kysaiah played in all 25 of Melbourne's games, including their important finals matches.
• He was part of the team that won the 2021 AFL Grand Final, earning a premiership medal. This is a huge achievement in Australian Rules Football!

Continued Success and Challenges

• In 2022, Kysaiah played 23 games and scored 41 goals. He only missed one game due to health reasons.
• In 2023, he started the season strong, kicking four goals in the first game.
• However, he received a two-game suspension for a tough tackle on an opponent.
• Later in 2023, he got another one-match ban for contact with a Carlton player.
• In 2024, Kysaiah received a third suspension in just over a year for similar contact.

Despite these challenges, Kysaiah Pickett is known as an excellent small forward. He is praised for his speed, strength, and skill on the field.

Career Statistics

Here are Kysaiah Pickett's career statistics up to the end of 2024.