Melbourne Demons Draft Cousin Kysaiah Pickett at Pick 12 in AFL Draft

Draft Night Drama as Demons Select Pickett's Cousin

The AFL draft began predictably on Wednesday night before Melbourne Football Club delivered one of the most heartwarming surprises of the evening. With their second selection at Pick 12, the Demons called out the name Latrelle Pickett, who happens to be the cousin of their superstar forward-midfielder Kysaiah Pickett.

The Secret Journey to Marvel Stadium

What made this selection even more remarkable was the covert operation that brought Latrelle to the draft. The young talent received a late invitation to the opening night and later revealed he had to "sneak in" to Marvel Stadium, keeping his presence secret from most family members.

The story becomes even more incredible when considering Latrelle's recent football journey. Just twelve months ago, he was playing for Tumby Bay in the Great Flinders Football League, a local competition far removed from the AFL spotlight.

Fox Footy presenter Sarah Jones captured the moment perfectly, saying "This is going to be pretty awesome" when his name was called. She highlighted the special nature of the selection and the surprise element that unfolded throughout the evening.

Football World Reacts to Stunning Selection

St Kilda great Leigh Montagna expressed excitement about the Demons' choice. "What's better than one Pickett in your forward line for the Dees? It's going to be two Picketts," he exclaimed. Montagna emphasized the special moment for both cousins and noted the incredible journey from local footy to top draft pick in just one year.

The emotional peak came when Latrelle walked onto the stage to receive his jumper from none other than his cousin Kysaiah, creating a memorable draft moment that will be replayed for years.

Veteran draft expert Kevin 'Shifter' Sheehan called it "an unbelievable story" and placed Latrelle in elite company. "His cousin went as the No.12 choice... so did Gavin Wanganeen, Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli - it's the Indigenous pick," Sheehan noted, highlighting the significance of the selection number.

From Local Footy to First-Round Bolter

Sheehan detailed Latrelle's rapid development, noting he'll turn 20 in a month and described him as a "later developer" who moved from Tumby Bay to play for Glenelg in the SANFL. His performance there was exceptional - after debuting at senior level and kicking four goals, he returned to reserves and kicked four in a grand final.

"He's the absolute bolter. Can we get bigger than the bolter? Absolute bolter. Wonderful to see," Sheehan concluded.

In his post-draft comments, Latrelle revealed the extent of the secrecy: "I was a late call-up. Wasn't meant to really say anything to family, and they actually had to sneak me in tonight." When asked about how he managed to bypass security, he credited a "couple of boys" who helped him, adding "it's pretty crazy."

The young talent expressed shock at being taken so early, admitting he was hoping for selection somewhere in the 60-70 range. "Pick 12 is unreal. Like, still can't believe it," he said.

Melbourne's Vision for Their New Recruit

Hailing from Port Lincoln in South Australia, Latrelle was overlooked in his original draft year in 2023 when he was part of Port Adelaide's Next Generation Academy. However, Melbourne identified several attributes that make him AFL-ready.

The Demons highlighted his natural footballing instincts and classy finish, noting his ability to create scoring opportunities ranks among the best. His elite running capacity was demonstrated by topping the South Australian combine 2km time trial.

Although he didn't feature in the U18 Championships, Latrelle played 18 reserves games for Glenelg in the SANFL, kicking 32 goals across these appearances, proving his scoring capability at state level.

The top 10 selections in the 2025 AFL draft were: