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“Jumped at shadows”: Crunch Time team react to Pickett deal
Nicholas Quinlan • June 14th, 2025 4:08 pm
SEN's Crunch Time team has reacted to the news of Melbourne's midfielder/forward Kysaiah Pickett re-signing with the Demons.
During the week, news broke that Pickett has re-signed with the Demons on a nine-year deal worth $12 million which will see him contracted with the club until 2034.
Pickett’s signature had been speculated throughout the season with rumours of him potentially requesting a trade to Western Australia at the end of the season.
And with Pickett playing exceptional football this year which includes his performance against Sydney in Round 11 which saw him kick five goals and collect 24 disposals, it only saw the pressure increase on the Dees to keep him.
However, recent Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Luke Hodge believes that the Demons have gone too early to try and re-sign him and could have waited.
“He’s a quality player without a shadow of a doubt,” Hodge said.
“But I felt they (Melbourne) jumped at shadows.
“He’s got two years on his contract that they can hold him to.
“It’s been the last two years of Petracca being not happy, Oliver going, “Is he staying (or) is he staying?” and they just jumped at shadows.
“They were worried that he was going to leave in two years’ time. So, they have jumped and signed him to a contract which is an enormous amount of money.
“I felt that they probably rushed into something they didn’t need to do.”
2018 Premiership coach Adam Simpson would then give some insight into what Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin would be feeling about this decision.
“From a coaching point of view, good,” he said.
“Get it done, keep him in… it’s not going to be my problem in seven or eight years or whenever Goody finishes.
“So, from a selfish performance point of view, I think he is a part of the puzzle.”
Pickett is currently averaging a career-high 19 disposals, 3.8 clearances, and 2.1 goals per game this season for the Demons showing how impactful he has been.
Pickett is currently averaging a career-high 19 disposals, 3.8 clearances, and 2.1 goals per game this season for the Demons showing how impactful he has been.
He will feature in Melbourne’s clash against Port Adelaide on Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Oval.
