‘Max Gawn Speaks Candidly on Kysaiah Pickett’s Future Amid Ongoing Speculation: “I’m Not Naive”‘

Captain of the Melbourne Demons, Max Gawn, has shared his commitment to ensuring that Kysaiah Pickett can perform at his peak for the team amidst swirling rumours regarding his potential exit from the club.

Reports have surfaced suggesting that Pickett has been sending messages to his mates at Fremantle, indicating that he intends to join the club next season, and he has even liked a social media post hinting at a switch to the Dockers.

While the forward was rumoured to be involved in a trade during the 2024 off-season, no deal has materialised as yet.

In response, Demons president Brad Green informed The Age that the club would only consider offers of two or three first-round draft picks in exchange for the talented player.

Gawn jokingly commented that Green “may have gone rogue,” before elaborating on how he plans to support his star player throughout the season.

Speaking on Triple M, Gawn acknowledged the complexities of the game and the evolving nature of free agency. “We have a young talent (Pickett) who has family in WA and SA; my focus now is ensuring Kozzy plays his best footy.”

“I intend to support him as much as possible and create a comfortable environment because this year, we really need him.”

“At the moment, I make my evaluations based on his performance during the week, not the ongoing speculations. My goal is to help him excel on the field this season.”

Earlier in February, when asked about the texts regarding potential moves, Pickett responded prior to the Indigenous All-Stars match, saying that those conversations are typical among friends. “I have mates and I can chat with them freely. I’m under contract with Melbourne, having a great time and I love being part of the club,” he remarked.

However, he did acknowledge experiencing homesickness since joining Melbourne.