Bontempelli: King backs Pickett’s rise after Round 7 heroics

bontempelli sits at the center of Melbourne’s latest surge, with Kysaiah Pickett’s Round 7 display against Richmond drawing a public endorsement from Steven King. The Melbourne coach said the 24-year-old has the tools and the mentality to become the League’s best player.

Pickett’s Round 7 burst

Pickett’s best-on-ground showing in Melbourne’s win over Richmond included a Virgin Australia Mark of the Year contender over Campbell Gray. It finished off a scintillating start to the season and put another spotlight on the way he is shaping Melbourne’s attack from midfield.

King’s praise went beyond the highlight grab. “As a coach, you want to give all your players the opportunity to be the best they can, but ultimately it comes down that innate desire to believe you can, and he's got all the tools to be the best as well,” he said. The coach then added, “He's pretty competitive. He doesn't just want to be a highlight reel, he wants to be the best each week.”

Darwin trip and midfield shift

The performance came just days after Pickett was allowed a quick trip to Darwin to see his daughter. King said the move was planned with Pickett and his manager, and he tied it to the trust built around the player’s season. “I'd love to give all my players the flexibility required, and that's a two-way trust,” he said.

King also pointed to the role change that has lifted Pickett’s influence. “That came with a desire to play a bit more midfield time... he's bought in wholeheartedly and what you see now is recognition for the work he puts in,” he said. Pickett has flourished in a full-time midfield role, and the coach’s description makes the shift sound less like a temporary tweak than a permanent demand on the opposition.

Sydney brings another tag

That demand has already brought more attention from opponents. “He's had a couple tag him this year and it comes back to that work-rate and two-way run - things people can't take away from you,” King said, after noting Pickett’s ascension has come with increased attention.

The next test comes on Sunday against Sydney at the SCG, where James Jordon is the likely stopper. The former Melbourne player has built a reputation as Sydney’s tagger, and Pickett’s rise now means the game plan will almost certainly start with him. King’s final read on the Richmond win was blunt: “Kozzy held up his end of the bargain not just by the way he played, but what he did before he left, what he did when he got back and what's in place for him up in Darwin.”