Kysaiah Pickett reveals how he plans to curb his aggression and avoid suspension in 2024

Kozzie Pickett has pledged not to abandon the aggressive approach which is loved by Melbourne’s coaches but has already cost him several weeks of his young career. He tells JON RALPH why he’ll continue to ‘hit hard’.

Kysaiah Pickett has pledged to continue dishing out his trademark aggression for the Demons, but with a smarter approach to dodge suspensions this season.

Pickett knows he has to change after returning from a 2023 semi-final suspension that saw him reverse free kicks at goal and hit Carlton captain Patrick Cripps high with an illegal bump. But as he told the Herald Sun this week, the relative of AFL hardman Byron Pickett can mix targeted aggression with knowing when to avoid hits that will see him sidelined again.

“Definitely, you can always hit hard, but not taking their head off is the main thing,” Pickett said.

“I grew up watching my uncle Byron – and he hits hard and everyone back home hits hard. So I think it’s a part of my game. The (coaches) love what I bring with my aggression, so it’s doing it in an appropriate way. I guess (Byron) just says be safe about it. He used to hit people very hard, so the one thing he tells me is to be safe about it.”

Pickett has been put on report for this late hit on Bailey Smith.

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Kozzie Pickett crunches Bailey Smith.

Byron Pickett lays a big bump.

Pickett book-ended his 2023 season with a pair of suspensions – the first a high bump as he jumped off the ground and cannoned into Western Bulldog midfielder Bailey Smith. Somehow, Smith walked away uninjured but even a season on, the AFL has admitted that hit would draw more than a two-week ban in 2024.

Then after reversing a Demons shot at goal with a jumper-punch to Carlton’s Mitch McGovern, Pickett was suspended for a high shepherd on Cripps that would have seen him miss a preliminary final if the Demons did not exit their season in straight sets.

Pickett said it was a long summer being aware of his opening round suspension and missing the Demons’ defeat at the SCG against the Swans.

Byron and Kozzie Pickett in 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

“To be honest, it’s just good to be out there having fun with the boys,” he said.

“I worked pretty hard this summer, so it’s just good to be on the winning list. Going up to Sydney – it was pretty tough sitting in the crowd; but it comes back to getting myself suspended. I am just so happy to be out there with the boys, having fun and having a laugh.

“It is tough, but I guess my mindset was to keep training hard and be ready when I came back. It’s always tough when you know you are going to be suspended and miss games, but you learn from your mistakes. I guess I have to try not to do it again.”

Kozzie Pickett catches Jack Macrae with a jumper punch. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The Herald Sun revealed last year that Pickett had committed to Melbourne on a four-year deal, despite intense rival interest from South Australia and Western Australia, where he split his childhood.

A season on, he is feeling more comfortable in the city of Melbourne – and with partner Ardu Cubillo expecting their first child, Pickett is proud of the life he is setting up for the family.

“I am definitely (more comfortable). Me and my partner live down here, so I am happy to be back in Melbourne, I have my house and have my own space. I am a bit more comfortable now and I am getting older and have my own life and a baby on the way so I have got my own little family to look after now.”

Originally published as Kysaiah Pickett reveals how he plans to curb his aggression and avoid suspension in 2024