The incredible rise of Glenelg’s AFL Draft prospect Latrelle Pickett
A cousin of Kozzie and Byron, Latrelle Pickett walked away from his draft dream in 2023. But two years later, thanks to the dad of another AFL star, he’s gone from unknown to first-round chance.
He boasts one of the most famous names in footy.
But if Latrelle Pickett is to cap an incredible rise from unknown to draftee this year, a large part will be down to someone from another famous footy family.
The 19-year-old – whose cousins include Melbourne premiership star Kysaiah Pickett and Port Adelaide Norm Smith medallist Byron Pickett – could realise his AFL dream in next week’s draft.
The mature-age prospect shot into draft contention by kicking four goals in his SANFL debut for Glenelg against Central District in August.
Pickett, from Port Lincoln and also a Sumner through his mum Leanne, played under-18s at Norwood.
But after just three games for the Redlegs in his draft year he returned back home and played for Tumby Bay in the Great Flinders Football League for the rest of 2023 and also 2024.
The dream didn’t die though and Pickett was hoping he could find his way back to Adelaide and back into a SANFL program.
Shining at a Nunga carnival in Port Lincoln, right in front of Terry Milera – the father of St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – gave him that opportunity.
“So I played in the carnival in Port Lincoln and then ‘Sweety’ Terry Milera he was the one who got me to Glenelg from there,” Pickett said.
“He basically told me you have a month of training and then you will be at the club training, so I was doing a month by myself out at Port Lincoln and then to Glenelg.
“I played him in one of the games (in the carnival) but we were just playing football, we were having some fun I guess.
“It is serious but after the game everyone is happy, what happens on the field just stays there.”
THE FAMILY TREE
Five years might be the difference between Latrelle and Kysaiah but they are extremely close, with Pickett describing the star Demon as a big brother.
“I kind of grew up with him,” he said.
“He was in Port Lincoln when he was younger and before he came over here and got picked up by Melbourne.”
“So I am pretty close with him through my dad because my dad is a Pickett.”
When it comes to former Port Adelaide star Byron, his dad also named Byron and Latrelle’s dad Brendon are first cousins.
“I talk to Choppy (Byron),” Latrelle said.
“I have stayed at his house now and then but I have talked to him a few times and then speak to Kozzie a couple of times a week.
“Kozzie has just told me to keep my head screwed on and just stay focused and try and achieve your dream.”
When Kozzie and the Demons came to Adelaide to take on the Crows in July, Latrelle spent time with him and saw first hand what it was like to be an AFL player on an interstate trip.
“He just texted me and said he was coming for the game against the Crows so we met up and got some Yo-Chi,” he said.
“I stayed with him that night and then was able to go down into the rooms, so that was good.
“It was pretty eye opening and cool to see (the life of an AFL player).”
It does have Latrelle dreaming it could be a more regular occurrence should Melbourne call out his name in the draft.
“That would be heaps good I reckon, I have been thinking about that,” he said.
“That would be the best.”
It hasn’t just been his famous cousins helping him.
Latrelle stays with Trisha, a relative of his dad’s, when travels to Adelaide from Port Lincoln.
Her sons Jermaine, who played for the SA under 16 team, and Justin – who call Latrelle their big brother – have also moved to Melbourne so there’s another support network there if he gets picked up by a Victorian side.
ACCELERATING THE PLAN
While he has plenty of speed and skill, and a knack in front of goals, he did have to bide his time before he got his chance at league level with Glenelg, before playing two finals as well as the four-goal debut game.
“That was cool playing league,” it came a bit later (than expected),” he said.
“But I still took it.”
After starring for the Tigers his plan of getting drafted was starting to come to fruition, but he admits he didn’t expect it to be this year.
“Not this early,” he said.
“I was thinking in a couple of years I would be in the mix.
“(The plan was) come over and give SANFL a crack for two or three years and see what happens.”
But while it has come a lot earlier than he thought, it might be coming at the right time for him.
“I definitely think it is the right time, when it was my time (in my draft year) I was a bit immature,” he said.
“So I do think this is the right timing for me, I’m 19 going on 20 soon so ready to make some big moves of my own.
“I reckon it is perfect timing and couldn’t have come around any better.”
Originally published as The incredible rise of Glenelg’s AFL Draft prospect Latrelle Pickett
Live: NTFL battlers prepare for rare opportunity
