2023 Player Reviews: #36 Kysaiah Pickett

[Demonland 65,210]

Date of Birth: 2 June 2001
Height: 171cm
Weight: 73kg

Games MFC 2023: 23
Career Total: 85
 
Goals MFC 2023: 37
Career Total: 125
 
Brownlow Medal Votes: 2

Melbourne Football Club: 7th  Best & Fairest  - 444 votes

After a brilliant opening game that also saw him suspended for a silly indiscretion, Pickett’s season was a mixed bag, with some quiet moments interspersed with his customary brilliance and magical goal kicking skills. He also had some great midfield moments. The fact that he managed a top ten best and fairest berth in an up and down season is testament to his potential to rise way above the limits of his stature.

[Sir Why You Little 34,516]

I hope he stays on his feet and stops trying to take speccies every game. 
2023 was an average year for this man. 
Can be far more consistent 

[Demonsterative 1,926]

Not Koszzie’s best year, but his input was valuable. When you set the bar high, it’s hard to break the a high glass ceiling.
 

Bigger and better years to come. 
 

 

[Lexinator 771]

AFL Latest Videos - AFL.com.au https://www.afl.com.au/video/1072057/leading-goalkickers-every-kysaiah-pickett-goal-in-2023?videoId=1072057&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1704394800001&tagNames=AppNewsFeed:Yes

Kicked a lot of freakish goals this year. I liked how Kozzie was deployed in centre bounces, too. Mind you, he's still only 22 so plenty of upside. Looking forward to seeing Koz tear up the MCG in '24.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,216]

Like a lot of his teammates, he lost the plot in front of the sticks towards the end and could only manage 4.8 in the last 4 games of the year. He's far better than that.

The Carlton final showed the best and worst in him in the one game. Undisciplined and inaccurate for the first half and a bit. Then became more of a focal up forward and kicked 2 goals and lit a massive spark for us as we got a bit of control between mid 3rd quarter and mid 4th quarter. 

His round 1 game was phenomenal. 19 possessions, 7 marks and 4 goals is as good as it gets in this league for a small forward that can pinch hit in the middle. If he can do this 4 to 6 times a year, then he'll easily be a top 30 player in the league. 

[DeeZone 7,773]

Agree with all above and I am looking forward to a stellar 45+ goal year from our freakish Kozzie, there was to much left up to him last year. Kozzie will love having McAdams, Billing’s and a plethora of fit forwards to zing around and make life extremely difficult for our opponents.

[Macca 16,173]

I'd like to see Kozzie play (on average) a third of his game time as a midfielder (from memory, his game against the Crows used as a midfielder for half the game was outstanding) And he's looked good at other times in the middle but more so the centre bounces where he can use his elusiveness and speed

But not too much as we obviously need him up forward as well

Swapping with Petracca as what used to happen back in the day (ruck rover/ rover type swapping roles to the half forward flank or pocket) So Petracca to play a 3rd of the games up forward used in conjunction with Kozzie

A 65/35 split but their roles up forward to be slightly different.  It should be remembered that in 2019, Petracca was our best forward who averaged 19 possessions as a high half forward (albeit in a disastrous season in terms of wins) 

Where as Kozzie is a dangerous small forward who can kick 2 or 3 goals in a hurry

I also believe that lots of early touches does wonders for Kozzie's confidence.  So we need to get the ball in his hands early

[leave it to deever 15,418]

I feel Kozzies in for a a big year.

He seemed down on form last season. But he has all the makings of a star. 

I love his high flying attempts but realistically probably need to stay down and do what he does best.

Our inside fifty delivery wasn't the best in 23 so I don't think that helped him. Needs to harness his aggression as well.

Hopefully this season will see some effective fwd use. Love to see Kozzie operate in a less congested fwd line and see him snag some bags . When he's on, he's a pure excitement machine that can destroy opposition teams.

Edited January 12 by leave it to deever

[leave it to deever 15,418]

On 11/01/2024 at 19:24, Lexinator said:

AFL Latest Videos - AFL.com.au https://www.afl.com.au/video/1072057/leading-goalkickers-every-kysaiah-pickett-goal-in-2023?videoId=1072057&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1704394800001&tagNames=AppNewsFeed:Yes

Kicked a lot of freakish goals this year. I liked how Kozzie was deployed in centre bounces, too. Mind you, he's still only 22 so plenty of upside. Looking forward to seeing Koz tear up the MCG in '24.

I forget how young he is.

I have a theory I plucked out of.....

Players are at their best @ 25 years of age so watch out.

Edited January 12 by leave it to deever

[Ugottobekidding 915]

Needs to put his natural aggression towards the ball.

[buck_nekkid 5,491]

We often see him taking speccies (or attempting to). I think this entirely in the game plan- if no other tall is contesting, at least halve the contest.  He seems to jump over big guys and him halving the contest is the best value option in that moment. Allowing the oppo to mark uncontested (waiting down for the crumbs) is the worst outcome of all.