Pickett takes mark of the year contender in Demon’s stunning outing

Big night! Big day coming up tomorrow, four games in the Anzac Day slate beginning in Tassie and finishing up in Perth, with a stop at the MCG and Adelaide Oval in between.

Hope you’ll join us for some or all of those ones. Until then, goodnight.

The Melbourne coach is up next, with an interesting revelation about Kozzy Pickett.

On the game itself:

“We knew Richmond with the sense of occasion, it would be a contest early. The way they got numbers around the footy, we didn’t start quarters well. But our last quarter was our most ruthless in terms of the contest, that was the highlight of the night to me.”

On Kozzy Pickett:

“We afforded Kozzy the luxury to go up to Darwin earlier in the week to see his daughter for her birthday on a five-day break. To see the way he did that, came back, managed his body and then perform like that was amazing to watch. It’s a real pleasure and a treat for me to coach because the things he does on the field are electric.”

On sharing the load:

“We try to play a system and a formation with the ball that everyone gets their turn. We had players who started quietly or who had quiet quarters, but they were able to narrow their focus and stay present and influence.”

On Jai Culley’s knee injury:

“It doesn’t look great when any player goes down like that. We are fearing the worse but we’re getting scans tomorrow. We’ll cross all our fingers and toes for good news.”

On Caleb Windsor:

“What he produced tonight is what we’ve seen all summer. He’s been doing a heap of work and tonight it came out. Really pleased for him, he deserved that.”

Kysaiah Pickett has starred with four goals and a mark-of-the-year contender in Melbourne’s 54-point victory over winless Richmond.

The Demons were made to work for three quarters before kicking away in the last to record a comfortable 19.12 (126) to 11.6 (72) triumph at the MCG on Friday night.

It extended Melbourne’s positive start to life under new coach Steven King, improving their record to 5-2 ahead of a tough interstate assignment against ladder leaders Sydney next round.

Pickett dazzled with 29 disposals and six clearances, and underlined his brilliant performance with a spectacular mark over Campbell Gray in the dying seconds.

He was awarded the Frank “Checker” Hughes Medal as best afield.

Caleb Windsor shone alongside Pickett, tallying 25 disposals and two goals, while Tom Sparrow (28 touches, nine clearances) and Brody Mihocek (three goals) were also influential.

Richmond’s seventh straight defeat this season came in the absence of veteran defender Jayden Short, who was a late withdrawal when his pregnant wife went into labour.

Acting captain Jack Ross had 27 disposals in his 100th game, fighting hard for the Tigers alongside Dion Prestia (28) and Patrick Retschko (26).

Sam Lalor tallied 16 touches, seven clearances and one goal in his hybrid midfield-forward role, while key forward Tom Lynch kicked 1.1 from five shots at goal on his return from injury.

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The Richmond coach is up and talking about the game. He says he’s lost his voice from being down at the bench.

His verdict on the game:

“We were competitive for three quarters but we just can’t put four quarters together. They were just better, their polish in front of goal and their connection going forward.

“The last quarter was just a blow out. To lose contested possession by 20, inside 50s we had eight. We’re disappointed, we don’t want to expect to not play a four-quarter performance.

“We expect our players to walk out of here with a bad taste in their mouth. We’re a winning footy club, we’re not going to be happy with a competitive performance.”

On what worked and what didn’t:

“Going into the game their ball movement from back to front is top four in the comp, and our transition was better than theirs’. Between the arcs, our contest work and our craft we couldn’t score from and they rebounded, and then when they went to their contests they scored four or five from those.

“We had Lynchy back and our felt our scores per entry was as good as theirs’. We’ll get some troops back next week and that will help us sustain it for longer.”

On the umpiring inconsistencies:

“We try to tackle, and you’d love to get rewarded for tackling. It was a frustrating night, it felt like we didn’t get rewarded for a few of them and then were punished for others. If they’ve missed a few out there, they’ve missed a few. If the boys are trying hard and executing good tackles then reward it.”

The wait for a win in 2026 goes on for Richmond. A few weeks ago they might have circled this one as an opportunity, but the Demons have improved to such an extent that it always seemed like a tough ask.

There is a bit to like in the way the Tigers attack the contest, but there are far too many lapses and periods in which the game completely gets away from them. That is the sign of a young team, but there has been a regression this year on that front.

Next week the Tigers are off to Perth to face West Coast. Both clubs will be absolutely desperate to win that one as both will be struggling for scalps in 2026. It’s the best chance the Tigers have had all year. It will be weirdly fascinating.

It has been an absolute slog for Max tonight. He has been sore, beaten up and worked over at times, but has not stopped running and working. And now as he heads for the bench, he has a goal to his name.

You can slow him, but you’ll never stop him.

Very tidy snapped set shot from Lalor after a diving mark. He gets a goal to his name to help improve the margin somewhat.

At some point the Tigers might need to demand a little more from Lalor, given the incredibly lofty expecations and hype around him. It’s been a solid enough night for the young gun, but there are other recent number one draft picks that haven’t got away with consistent 15-disposal games in their second years. No doubt the big ones are coming soon.

Another sublime set shot from a Melbourne forward, this time Mihocek from outside the boundary line and just about 50 metres. Perfection.

The Tigers have run out of gas now. It’s looking like another 10-goal job.

He had a shocking third quarter, but he’s having a very good final term.

The Melbourne pressure forced a sloppy turnover out of Broad, and Fritsch gathered and snapped off a step from 40. Demons cruising away with this game.

Pickett was held without the ball (only briefly I should say, but he made sure the umpire saw it) and made no mistake with his set shot.

The Demons are out to a 41-point lead now and this is at risk of turning into another thumping for Richmond.

Windsor has been sensational tonight in what is turning into a real breakout season. Doing the tough stuff on the inside but still so damaging on the outside.

That was a glorious snap on his left-foot, the sort that hangs in the air long enough for the crowd to declare the goal well before it crosses the line. Demons nearly there.

First of all, holding the ball is a total lottery tonight and Richmond’s numbers are not coming up. Totally inconsistent all evening.

Secondly, what a set shot from Fritsch. Tight to the boundary on the wrong side for a left-footer. Never looked like missing.

And that might be putting it lightly.

Corbin Middlemas and Kelli Underwood here dissect all the news of the week, none of which has painted the league in a particularly good light.

End. To. End. Blistering footy from a kick in. Langdon strolled to the 50 unattended, kicked long to a pack where Sharp got the crumb and handballed forward. Pickett swarmed, scooped and slotted on the run.

Tigers need to be careful here. The Demons can sniff it.

Great mark from Jefferson, floating across to grab the van Rooyen kick. And the set shot split the middle.

Big moment in the game now. Can the Tigers see out this quarter and remain close on the scoreboard, or will the Dees put the foot down?