The Pickett pairing looks set to excite Melbourne fans this season, with both Kysaiah and Latrelle Pickett continuing to shine on the training track. <\/p>\n
However, it came with an injury scare to captain Max Gawn who spent time away from the main group. <\/p>\n
Melbourne confirmed on Wednesday that the skipper will enter rehab after suffering a fractured finger, but there\u2019s no concerns about him missing next month\u2019s State of Origin clash.<\/p>\n
\u201cMax injured his finger on Monday and will be in a splint for the next three weeks,\u201d General Manager of AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll be able to continue running and will maintain his fitness, which means his ability to play in the upcoming AFL Origin match won\u2019t be affected.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kysaiah looked sharp as he spent most of Wednesday\u2019s pre-season session at Gosch\u2019s Paddock working with the midfield group, while cousin Latrelle is showing some great early signs since being selected at pick 12 in November\u2019s national draft. <\/p>\n
Latrelle put some genuine tricks on display during drills, while also setting up Bailey Fritsch for a goal during match simulation. <\/p>\n
Latrelle looms as a round 1 chance alongside No. 11 draft pick Xavier Taylor, who has also impressed over summer with his ability to play tall or small in defence and his willingness to take on the play when he wins the ball back. <\/p>\n
Fellow defender Jake Lever looks fit again after injuries restricted him to only eight games last year, while rebounding halfback Christian Salem is also ripe for a big 2026. <\/p>\n
Jai Culley showed some nice footwork and run through the midfield during match simulation and kicked a great long-range goal when he floated forward at one point.<\/p>\n
Half-forward Kade Chandler was in everything as he worked hard up the ground to find the footy, while Harvey Langford had some nice moments onball and Caleb Windsor provided some good run and tackling pressure on the outside. <\/p>\n
Trent Rivers and Tom Sparrow both trained with the midfielders, with Harrison Petty again in defence. <\/p>\n
Key forward Jacob van Rooyen presented well and kicked two goals during match simulation, while untried small forward Ricky Mentha applied some serious heat inside 50 and appears to be developing nicely. <\/p>\n
Melbourne faces St Kilda at in a round 1 clash at the MCG on March 15.<\/p>\n
BIG MAN OUT WITH LITTLE INJURY<\/p>\n
Demons captain Max Gawn spent most of Wednesday\u2019s training away from the main group with a fresh finger injury. <\/p>\n
Gawn wore a support on his left hand after hurting his finger at training on Monday. <\/p>\n
He took part in some light drills, before spending time running around the boundary. <\/p>\n
Gawn completed some of the running alongside Thomas Matthews in what looked an unusual pairing. <\/p>\n
The 209cm Gawn is the tallest player on Melbourne\u2019s list, while 171cm small forward Matthews is the shortest. <\/p>\n
The No. 30 pick in last year\u2019s national draft, Matthews is still working his way back to full fitness from a PCL injury. <\/p>\n
LIGHT DUTIES <\/p>\n
Veteran onballer Jack Viney and key forward recruit Brody Mihocek are still training away from the main group as they work their way back from injuries. <\/p>\n
Viney has been battling an Achilles tendon injury and spent most of the session completing some running drills around the boundary, while Mihocek (foot) did the same before jumping on an exercise bike. <\/p>\n
Viney also had some work done on his lower back, but pushed on and got running again. <\/p>\n
Jake Melksham, Changkuoth Jiath, Aidan Johnson, Andy Moniz-Wakefield and Tom McDonald split their time between the main group and some lighter duties on the sidelines, while Harry Sharp ran some laps. <\/p>\n
Veteran ruckman Tom Campbell was in plain clothes and was sporting a small neck brace after a recent knock. <\/p>\n
SCOUT BOOST<\/p>\n
As the Dees sweat out pre-season on the track, they have had a boost off-field by adding experienced footy head Shane Joules to their recruiting team.<\/p>\n
Joules spent 16 years at Collingwood in various roles including an opposition analyst and pro scout under coaches Mick Malthouse and Nathan Buckley, before running VFL club Northern Bullants, and most recently a stint working at the AFL as a conduit between schools and AFL HQ.<\/p>\n
He boosts one of footy\u2019s most experienced recruiting and list teams, led by list boss Tim Lamb and recruiting head Jason Taylor.<\/p>\n
The Demons lost recruiter and AFLW list head Todd Patterson to the Tasmania Devils midway through 2025.<\/p>\n
EAGLES TRACK WATCH: LEAN REID TURNS HEADS OUT WEST<\/p>\n
West Coast\u2019s Tom McCarthy is using his first AFL pre-season to build a midfield fitness base after an encouraging debut year. <\/p>\n
The No.1 pick in last year\u2019s mid-season draft, McCarthy played 10 games for the Eagles, including a stunning debut against Carlton when he set the record for the most disposals for a first-gamer (31). <\/p>\n
Starting his career at half-back, McCarthy spent some time on-ball late in the season. <\/p>\n
And it\u2019s a role he\u2019s looking to build upon in 2026. <\/p>\n
\u201cHalf-back is still there,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think more midfield time this year. It depends on game situations and stuff, but at the moment, I\u2019ve been training through the midfield a lot. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m learning lots of things through there, new craft things with (stoppages coach) Luke Shuey, and learning positioning a lot more. <\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, in round one, I\u2019ll be in there. That\u2019s the plan. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s got to me a little bit, the training loads. But I think I\u2019ve thrived in that sort of position, being a bit of a running player. <\/p>\n
\u201cI have a lot more confidence now. I feel a lot fitter now than I did this time last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
An expanded midfield role means McCarthy will get more opportunities to play alongside Harley Reid. <\/p>\n
The No.1 draft pick has been the talk of pre-season, cutting a leaner and stronger figure after admitting he didn\u2019t get his preparation right last summer. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s put in the work,\u201d McCarthy<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s looking a lot stronger, a lot bigger. He\u2019s moving really well at training. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s picked up where he left off before he got injured. I know he had a bit of a slow start to pre-season last year, but no slow start this year. He\u2019s looking really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
KEY QUARTET MANAGED<\/p>\n
As hundreds of fans flocked through the gates at Mineral Resources Park for the first open training session of 2026, there were a few big names they would\u2019ve loved to have seen hit the track. <\/p>\n
But after a big session on Monday, Harley Reid, Elliot Yeo, Jamie Cripps and Liam Duggan were all absent. <\/p>\n
The quartet are being managed in anticipation of another big hitout on Friday, not an uncommon occurrence at this time of the year. <\/p>\n
Reid was briefly spotted popping his head out of the clubhouse to spectate. <\/p>\n
In the injury ward, rookie Fred Rodriguez was spotted on crutches after scans revealed a stress fracture in his foot. <\/p>\n
Ruck Matt Flynn also spent some time in the hands of trainers after copping a knock to his finger, but he was able to complete the session.<\/p>\n
BACK IN THE FOLD<\/p>\n
Tyler Brockman\u2019s AFL career is on a knife-edge after he was allegedly involved in a street fight in Geraldton during the Christmas break. <\/p>\n
But the 23-year-old is being supported by his teammates as he waits to learn his fate, with West Coast and WA police investigating the incident. <\/p>\n
Brockman has resumed training with the Eagles and was going through the motions on Wednesday with the support of his teammates. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll just be there as a friend and a mentor to him,\u201d McCarthy said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s doing alright. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs a whole group, we\u2019ll support him. It\u2019s out of our control, so we\u2019ll focus on our training and get through that.\u201d<\/p>\n
STAKING THEIR CLAIM<\/p>\n
It was the moment that could prove to be a glimpse into the future for West Coast fans. <\/p>\n
During one drill, first round draft pick Josh Lindsay lasered a 45m pass onto the chest of top five selection Cooper Duff-Tytler. <\/p>\n
With McCarthy eyeing a bigger role in the midfield this season, there could be a role at half-back for Lindsay early in the season. <\/p>\n
And McCarthy has loved what he\u2019s seen from the Geelong Falcons defender. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve really liked Josh Lindsay early,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a really penetrating left foot. He\u2019s training really well through there.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy also singled out second-year winger Hamish Davis as a player to watch this year, praising his fitness and strength. <\/p>\n
Davis earned the praise of coach Andrew McQualter during one tackling drill early on in the session as he aims to build on his eight career games.<\/p>\n