Fatherhood first: How the Demons are handling Kozzy situation

Melbourne players are well aware of and entirely on board with how the club is dealing with Kozzy Pickett’s personal situation.

The Demons star split from his partner Ardu Cubillo earlier this year which has seen her and their daughter move back to Darwin.

Pickett has twice been back and forth between Darwin and Melbourne this season, and has missed training on the odd occasion, but the situation has certainly not impacted his output.

The 25-year-old is in career-best form of late, putting up ridiculous numbers which has coincided with the 9-5 Demons sitting fourth on the ladder in coach Steven King’s first year at the helm.

King says it is a controlled situation which the playing group is completely across.

“I certainly messaged the group to make sure that there was no chat or talk in the background,” King said on SEN Breakfast.

“It was more just making them aware of what Koz was going through and the challenges he faced in that space.

“We’ve got a fair few fathers in the playing group so even to let them know that being a father comes first and then a footballer comes second.

“If we can do whatever we can to help the two work hand in hand we’ll do that for any individual whether it’s Kozzy or any father in the group. They’ve been really supportive of Koz.

“To his credit every time he’s come back from Darwin he’s shot the lights out so it’s that two-way trust. If you’ve got a happy playing group you get better results.”

Pickett is sitting equal seventh on the AFLCA coaches votes with 54 and is averaging a career-high 23 disposals, 5.1 inside 50s and 4.6 clearances.

He’s also kicked 22 goals to lead the way at the Dees.

King also commented on the omission of Kozzy’s cousin Latrelle Pickett from last weekend’s clash with Essendon.

The No.12 pick from last year’s draft has played 12 games in his debut season but was omitted following a quiet outing against Collingwood in the King’s Birthday clash in Round 13.

“It was more the fundamentals of the game,” King said of the 20-year-old.

“‘Trelly’ knows I back him in. I’ve sort of given him a fair few games already, and I see his upside, his talent and his athletic profile.

“It was more just the game now requires detail around your fundamentals being really sound. I’m really pleased he got to play that King’s Birthday game in front of such a big crowd because I think that will hold him in good stead moving forward.

“I just made him aware that even Nick Watson got omitted in his first year. For what he’s doing as a first-year player is quite extraordinary.

“It (the message) was just to go back and work on those fundamentals. He didn’t have to go back and kick six goals for Casey, just go back and be pretty compliant in the role he has to play and just to keep educating him on what’s required in the game.”

Latrelle had 18 disposals and kicked a goal in Casey’s 32-point win over the Bombers in the VFL.

King provided an update on Brody Mihocek after the Demon sustained a neck fracture at the MCG on King’s Birthday.

“He is up and walking post-operation, which is amazing. We all know how dire it looked for a little bit – it’s so lucky to up and moving,” he said of the former Magpie.

“At this moment, the footy stuff is secondary – we just want to make sure he recovers well the next six weeks and gets himself back to being in a good physical and mental state.

“Emotionally, he and (his family) have gone through a rollercoaster. The boys have been popping around to make sure he knows we are there for him.”

The Demons will be chasing their 10th win of the season when they meet the Crows at Adelaide Oval this Saturday.