WHEN Kozzy Pickett gets the ball, things happen.
The first-year player generates immediate excitement for fans, with speed, pressure and forward craft all part of his wheelhouse.
These aspects of his game were the reason Melbourne took the youngster with their second selection in last year’s National Draft.
Playing 14 games this year, Pickett has shown glimpses of what he’s capable of – an exciting prospect for the Dees’ development coach, Matt Egan.
“For Kozzy, really to play the whole season is an unbelievable effort,” he told Melbourne Media.
“He’s shown he’s durable. His body was getting through and he was running out games right at the end of the season.
“It’s a credit to him and how far he’s come, from the moment he walked in until now.
“He had his ups and downs throughout the year, but he’s shown he’s going to be an absolute star in the future.”
While he had an impact in every game he played, Pickett’s best performance came in Round 11.
The 19-year-old recorded 12 disposals, six score involvements, 24 pressure acts and a goal against North Melbourne, in an effort that earned him a Rising Star Nomination.
And while his ability was somewhat underestimated early, he is now on his way to being one of Melbourne’s most dangerous small forwards.
“To get a player like him in and to get games into him is important for our future,” Egan said.
“He’s exactly what we needed – a drop of ball, crumbing forward, who can kick goals and put pressure on.
“He’s very exciting.”
Although there’s usually a lot to adapt to in a debut season, this year took things up a notch.
Originally from South Australia, Pickett first moved in with defender Neville Jetta in Melbourne, before the season’s turn of events saw the team head north.
But a hub full of teammates proved to be a pretty good environment for Pickett’s development.
“A big part of the young players coming through is working out what AFL lifestyle is like,” Egan said.
“It’s really about learning the habits off the older players around them, so they pick up some they use for the rest of their careers, and then getting some games into them if you can.
“Obviously living with a great leader in Nev, who’s got amazing habits and treats every moment really importantly, Koz has really matured.
“He’s really easy to talk to and really popular in the group, and he looks more and more settled every week he’s here.
“Even watching his media stuff now from where he started – he’s grown as a person.
“He’s still got a lot to work on, on his game, but every player does. To get some real consistency with his body and training and playing, he’s only going to get better.”
