The Demons and Kysaiah Pickett contested the Match Review Officer’s charge on Tuesday evening after Pickett’s bump on Collingwood’s Darcy Moore during Round 24 was classified as careless conduct, severe impact, and high contact.
Pickett, represented by Adrian Anderson, pleaded not guilty, arguing that the bump was unlikely to cause injury at the time, that his contesting of the ball was reasonable, and that the high contact resulted from unforeseeable circumstances.
Although Pickett did not give evidence during the hearing, he submitted a statement expressing his regret and explaining his actions. He stated that he was trying to protect space and win the ball, and that Moore’s sudden fall was unexpected.
The AFL chose not to seek an increase in the three-match ban initially proposed, even though they had the option to push for a longer suspension.
During the hearing, Anderson argued that Pickett’s decision to bump was aimed at staying low, while the AFL contended that Pickett’s approach to contesting the ball was unreasonable. AFL Counsel Sally Flynn suggested that Pickett could have bent down to gather the ball, attempted a tackle, or slowed his momentum to avoid high contact.
After a three-hour hearing, the Tribunal upheld the charge, meaning Pickett will miss the first three games of the 2025 home and away season, given Melbourne’s season concluded last week.
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