Fremantle Dockers in box seat to land homesick Melbourne Demons star Kysaiah Pickett after 2025 season

Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett looks set to join Fremantle after the 2025 season, sources have told The West Australian. It comes after the Demons premiership forward had been linked to a move home to Western Australia at the end of last year but ultimately remained at the club. However, it is understood the homesick star is now desperate to return to WA despite being contracted until the end of 2027. Sources have told The West that talks between his management and Fremantle have been ongoing and that “a lot would have to go wrong” for Pickett to not end up in purple next season. Club insiders also told The West signing the 23-year-old was currently a high priority for the Dockers. Pickett, who welcomed his first child with partner Ardu in April last year, expressed interest in a move for family reasons during his exit meeting with the Demons but did not officially request a trade. He was born in South Australia and moved there with his uncle, former AFL player Byron Pickett, before being drafted but was raised in Quairading in rural WA and still has strong family ties to the Wheatbelt town.. Close friends with the Dockers’ big-name recruit Shai Bolton and pre-season signing Quinton Narkle, Pickett also won a flag alongside star ruck Luke Jackson at Optus Stadium when the pair both played for Melbourne in 2021. Fremantle denied speaking with the contracted Demon ahead of last year’s trade period, in which Bolton was acquired from Richmond, but did not rule out a play for him in the future. “I like the sound of that (Pickett coming to Fremantle),” Dockers list boss David Walls said in October. “But we haven’t spoken to Kozzy as yet, he’s contracted long-term at Melbourne. He’d be a nice fit, he’s got family ties to WA but I don’t see it happening this year.” The Dockers were contacted for comment on Tuesday. Pickett, who has played 106 games across five seasons, only signed a four-year extension with the Demons in April 2023. Fremantle are also heavily linked to Sydney superstar Chad Warner, who is out of contract at the end of this year. The midfielder has also had strong interest from West Coast and was spotted playing golf with Eagles officials during the off-season. Pickett will return to Perth next month as part of the Indigenous All-Stars team that will play against Fremantle at Optus Stadium on February 15. He said he was thrilled to play in front of friends and family and alongside Dockers veteran Michael Walters, who he grew up idolising. “The main thing for me is just excitement,” Pickett told AFL.com.au. “You play against these boys your whole career, so being able to team up with them is pretty special. “A lot of them are superstars. I look up to heaps of the boys that I’m going to be alongside, so it is pretty exciting for me.” But he will miss the first three games of Melbourne’s home and away season as he serves a suspension from late last year. Pickett was drafted with pick 12 in 2019, one selection after Jackson, who was traded to Fremantle from Melbourne in 2022.