Port Adelaide great Byron Pickett’s daughter Lakeesha primed to make a huge impact

When Byron Pickett became Port Adelaide’s first – and still only – Norm Smith Medal winner after the Power’s 2004 premiership victory, he accepted the award with baby daughter Lakeesha in his arms.

When Byron Pickett became Port Adelaide’s first – and still only – Norm Smith Medal winner after the Power’s 2004 premiership victory, he accepted the award with baby daughter Lakeesha in his arms.

Now, 17 years on, Lakeesha is looking to forge her own way on the football field, potentially following in her dad’s footsteps into the Power jumper.

She has been a member of the club’s Women’s Aboriginal AFL Academy for two years and if she continues her development could well become a member of the Power’s inaugural AFLW squad, after the club last month won the right to field a women’s team from the 2023 season.

“I’m at the start of my footy and, hopefully, I can keep going and see where I get,” the year 12 Ocean View student said.

“When I was a little girl, I just dreamt of playing footy, and if I ever got the chance to play AFLW that would be an amazing opportunity for me and to make my family proud of what I’m doing.”

But back in 2004, when Pickett accepted his Norm Smith Medal with Lakeesha, he could never have dreamt that she could also pursue a top-level footy career, as there was no pathway into the game for women.

Port Adelaide great Byron Pickett’s daughter Lakeesha, is a member of the Power’s Women’s Footy Academy. Picture: Sarah Reed

“I think (AFLW) is awesome. It’s changed the game in a big way and women’s footy has grown massively,” the 44-year-old said.

“For her to be a part of it, and potentially be part of a team in the future, is something I’d be proud of.”

Lakeesha, 17, is relatively new to footy having played netball growing up, but her height and fearless attack at the ball have seen her slot perfectly into a ruck/forward role.

In 2019, she was named a member of the South Australian under-18 girls’ Academy squad and in 2021 played two league games for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFLW, kicking two goals on debut.

Pickett said football was in his daughter’s blood – and she loved watching cousin Kysaiah playing for Melbourne in the AFL.

“I’ve seen a couple of games where she showed controlled aggression, but I reckon her hands are better than what mine were. She kept marking the ball,” Pickett said.

“Thinking back to the premiership we won in 2004, she was the little baby when I was holding the medal and it’s a special part of what’s happening to her now.”

Lakeesha said she would love to follow in her dad’s footsteps at Port.

“It would be an amazing opportunity for me to do something that my Dad also did,” she said.

“A lot of people have said that when they watch me play, they can see my Dad.

“I’m just hard at the ball, aggressive, I reckon, and attack the ball.

“Dad was too solid for anyone to come at him and I think that’s one of my strengths, being strong around the ball.”

With Port Adelaide’s home AFL preliminary final now less than a week away, Pickett predicts the Power are primed to win the flag.

“I think they’ve obviously got the team to go all the way,” he said.

“If they’re playing their best footy, I don’t think there’s anyone who can beat them.

“They need to make the most of their opportunities and play the free-flowing footy that we know they can play.

“When they get running, they’re the best team at it.”

Pickett said the efforts of Karl Amon, Ollie Wines and Charlie Dixon had been immense in the team making back-to-back preliminary finals.

“(But) everyone says it, that Aliir Aliir has come in and he’s the general down back and reads the play really well,” Pickett said.

“I rated him when he was at Sydney and even more here with Port Adelaide.

“He’s a massive difference in this club and its success, not just this year but in years to come.”