FINALS SENSATION NEEDS MUZZLING
Young Demon Kysaiah Pickett could so something special on Grand Final day, says Jordan Lewis. Picture: Michael Klein
Hawthorn’s 2008 Grand Final win over Geelong is one of 20 incredible Grand Finals which Fox Footy fans can vote upon as part of the Fox Footy Ultimate Grand Final Countdown before 10 winning games are shown across the bye weekend from Friday night.
Lewis will be part of Fox Footy’s coverage in the leadup to the Grand Final after being one of the four-time premiership players at Hawthorn.
Cyril Rioli lit up the MCG in that 2008 Grand Final with several telling interventions, and after spending a summer doing some coaching at Melbourne in Pickett’s first year, he is tipping something similar.
“After his first pre-season I did say he’s the closest thing I have ever seen to Cyril Rioli,’’ he said.
“I know players in the past have been compared to him but from what I have witnessed and comparing him to Cyril, he’s the closest. They have this uncanny ability to sum up a situation before they approach it. They are at their best when there is more traffic and they can see a path out of it. Funnily enough, their temperament is similar, too. In the right environment they feel comfortable but they are very shy.
“Pickett isn’t a high possession winner and everything he does is very creative. The highlight of Cyril’s career was with the ball but also when he didn’t have it, and 2008 highlighted it, so they have that raw talent but also the underlying competitive nature helps.”
Lewis said the Demons should consider acquiring
Fremantle’s Adam Cerra if he was prepared to play for the right price. Melbourne is struggling to get a deal done to satisfy Fremantle.
“It’s not necessarily a positional type they need to bring in, so if it’s the right price and he wants to make the sacrifice financially, you would look at it,’’ he said.
“But you wouldn’t be bending over backwards to get him in the door. He would play wing or even high halfforward, and you can never have enough mids but right now they have real continuity going with their midfield.”