AFL Melbourne v Sydney: Kysaiah Pickett masterclass fires Dees to fifth win in six games

Kysaiah Pickett lit up the ‘G again on Sunday with a masterful performance against Sydney. Hear from the star Demon in the rooms after the game.

Edward Bourke and Ronny Lerner

5 min read

May 26, 2025 - 12:24AM

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Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett has finals on his mind after his devastating five-goal performance led the Demons to a crushing victory over Sydney.

Pickett again refused to commit himself to Melbourne beyond 2025, but said his side could emulate the three finalists from last year who came from outside the top eight at the midway point of the season after a stirring fortnight of football from the Dees.

He said he felt “goosebumps” as he left the field to a standing ovation from Melbourne supporters when he slotted his fifth goal late in the third quarter.

Kysaiah Pickett after the win. Picture: Getty Images

Pickett gathered 24 disposals, 536m gained and booted 5.4 as they claimed a second win over a grand final side in two weeks and moved to a 5-6 record after beginning the campaign with five consecutive defeats.

Western Bulldogs (11th, 5-6), Hawthorn (14th, 4-7) and the eventual premier, Brisbane (13th, 4-1-6) all surged from the bottom half of the ladder into September action from the same point last season.

“If we keep playing with the confidence we’ve created in the last few weeks, I feel like we can definitely go against the best and go pretty high up into finals,” he said as he held his one-year-old daughter Belleny in his arms post-game.

“There were a few teams last year that were in the same position as us and they went to the finals, so I think we can do the same.

“It’s pretty crazy … when you come off you can just hear the crowd going nuts.”

So fired up was Pickett that when he found the ball 60m out from goal early in the third term, he reached deep into his toolkit and pulled out a torpedo – which failed spectacularly.

“I was too far out, and thought of my uncle Byron and just wanted to try to do a barrel like him,” he said.

Pickett slots a beauty

Contracted until 2027 but the subject of intense speculation surrounding his future in Melbourne, the 23-year-old played a straight bat to questions about where he would play next season.

“I’m just focusing on this year, to be honest. I’m loving my footy at the moment, as you can see,” Pickett said.

Pickett wins the ball in the middle. Picture: Getty Images

“The club is great … they look after me very well, so I’m just grateful.”

He said it was extra special to produce the emphatic performance during Sir Doug Nicholls Round, and wearing the Indigenous jumper designed by his father, Kevin Kropinyeri.

“I wore it with pride, and everything I do really is for my family,” he said.

“I’ve got a little one now, so she’s looking out for me and I just want to be the best person for her … I’ve got a lot of nephews and little brothers, so I just want to be a good role model to them.”

Demons coach Simon Goodwin said Pickett’s outstanding work rate on field had helped transform his side as they eye an unexpected revival.

“I think that’s something that people don’t talk about with Koz much. He works incredibly hard. His ability to cover ground is exceptional,” Goodwin said.

“It’s added to his game significantly and added to our team. I think we’ll put his torp away for a while, now.”

Christian Petracca is chaired from the ground in game 200. Picture: Getty Images

MATCH REPORT: MELBOURNE REVIVAL CONTINUES

Another sensational performance from superstar Kysaiah Pickett has helped the Demons demolish a hapless Sydney outfit by 53 points at the MCG on Sunday as their impressive revival continued.

Pickett played one of the best games of his glittering career and showed once again why the Demons must fight tooth and nail to ensure he stays with them next year after he expressed a desire to head back home to WA.

The premiership forward helped himself to five goals, 24 disposals (11 contested), 13 score involvements, six clearances, four tackles and a team-high 536 metres gained. He could have had a bigger bag, too, but he hit the post twice.

So bad were Sydney that the margin probably flattered them. Melbourne doubled their scoring shots (36-18), but also sent five shots on goal out on the full while another one failed to score.

Their final score of 19.17 (131) was their biggest in more than two years and they finished with 10 goalkickers.

Melbourne was very wayward to start the game, but after they were 7.13 early in the third quarter, they straightened right up to kick 12.4 from that point on and put the sorry Swans to the sword.

It was a terrific day for Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

And the heavy defeat for the Swans could be exacerbated by captain Callum Mills copping a suspension.

The Sydney captain played his first game for the season, and just his eighth since 2023, and looks set for another layoff after cleaning up Charlie Spargo in the third quarter by jumping off the ground and cannoning into the Melbourne forward’s head. It’s an incident that will surely be scrutinised by MRO Michael Christian because Spargo was subbed out shortly after.

The Demons have been notorious in recent years for dominating inside 50s and failing to kick a winning score, but they emphatically bucked that trend by comfortably edging the Swans for forward entries (64-44) and winning by nine goals. The big win was also built off the back of Melbourne’s destruction of the Swans in contested possessions (157-130).

Champion ruckman Max Gawn was influential again with 21 possessions (17 contested), 35 hitouts, nine tackles, six clearances and a goal, and Clayton Oliver probably played his best game of the season with 31 touches (10), 12 tackles and a major. Christian Petracca was pivotal, too, racking up 28 disposals (14) and a goal.

Kozzy AGAIN! The Dees star kicks his fourth goal. ðŸ”¥ðŸ”¥ðŸ”¥

ðŸ“º Watch #AFLDeesSwans on ch.503 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/tEbIJrg77g
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ðŸ”¢ MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/xlIVGifzfx pic.twitter.com/e5i09l5hUo
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 25, 2025

MELBOURNE OFF TARGET

The Demons took a 22-point advantage at half-time, but horrible inaccuracy prevented them from taking a much greater lead. Despite a territory domination which saw them smash the Swans in forward entries in the second quarter (23-5), Melbourne could only manage 3.8, including three posters, as they finished the first half with five consecutive behinds.

MCCARTIN PAYS PRICE

Tom McCartin’s kick into the corridor early in the second quarter was a shocker. It went over Brodie Grundy’s head, and opened the door for Ed Langdon to combine with Christian Salem to get it to Christian Petracca who unloaded from a standing start from 45m out and drill the goal.

SALEM SEALS THE DEAL

Any faint hope the Swans might’ve had were extinguished early into time on in the third term when Matt Roberts’ pass intended for Callum Mills was spoiled by Aidan Johnson. Christian Salem then gathered the ball and kicked truly to put the Demons up by 34 points with just his eighth goal in seven years.

DEES BACK IN TOWN

After losing their first five matches, and appearing to be out of finals contention early, Melbourne have now won five of their last six to be just a game outside the top eight at the halfway point of the season. Meanwhile, the result dealt a big blow to the Swans’ finals hopes as they’ve now slipped two games adrift of eighth-placed GWS. Sydney have now lost eight of their last 10 outings at the MCG.