kysaiah pickett sealed Melbourne’s eight-point win over Collingwood with the late major that settled the King’s Birthday match at the MCG, 12.11 to 11.9. He also struck twice in the first seven minutes, giving Melbourne the early edge in a game that stayed tight until the final minutes.
Pickett and Daicos at the bounce
Pickett and Nick Daicos were lined up against each other at the first centre bounce, and Harvey Langford immediately ran down Daicos mid-bounce. Melbourne turned that opening into scoreboard pressure through Pickett, who kicked his first two goals before the game had settled into its rhythm.
Collingwood kept coming. Jordan De Goey missed a set shot, Jacob van Rooyen missed one for Melbourne, and the game swung repeatedly as both sides found chances without fully taking control. Bayley Fritsch later looked as if he had won it for Melbourne with two fourth-term goals, but the margin still sat on a knife edge.
Neale Daniher Trophy votes
Pickett’s performance earned him the revamped Neale Daniher Trophy, voted on a 3-2-1 basis by coaches Craig McRae and Steven King. The award recognized Daniher’s values of bravery, resilience, unity, care, conviction and selflessness, along with his mantra of “Play On.”
The setting gave the result added weight. The MCG crowd had gathered to farewell Neale Daniher, and the match was played in that tribute-day atmosphere before the late swing in the scoreline.
Late swings at the MCG
Collingwood briefly looked poised to steal it when Angus Anderson threatened to become the match-winner, and Paddy Cross landed what was described as the greatest goal of his fledgling career. Melbourne still had the last decisive touch when Pickett kicked the game-sealing major without taking his 30 seconds.
Brayden Maynard’s game ended after he dislocated his shoulder, a setback that added another hard turn to a contest already decided by small moments. In the end, Melbourne walked away with the eight-point win and Pickett walked away with the trophy and the final word.
