Nick Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli, Isaac Heeney... Kysaiah Pickett?
Former Geelong star and 2007 Brownlow Medal winner Jimmy Bartel believes Melbourne's star midfielder-forward has become one of the top five players in the league.
During 3AW's Friday night broadcast of Melbourne's 54-point win over Richmond, Bartel said Pickett was living up to his seven-year $12 million contract.
"He is definitely in the top 10 and he is probably in your top five at the moment," Bartel said on 3AW.
"For impact on games, and you think of each one of Melbourne's wins this year he has been electric in them. That's the impact he has and I know we often talk about guys who sign big contracts if you offer them the money they are not going to knock it back, he is living up to the big contract. He is probably over performing."
Pickett has been a revelation since elevating his game from damaging small forward to bullocking and rapid midfielder. He has scored 10 goals from seven matches this season and is averaging 24 disposals, but it's his impact on games that make him such a dangerous player for the Dees and a privilege for fans to watch.
During the Demons' win over the Tigers on Anzac Day eve, Pickett was the catalyst to Melbourne's second half surge as he kicked four goals, had six clearances and 29 disposals with 27 kicks to win best-on-ground honours.
The 24-year-old won his first All-Australian jacket in 2025 and is on track to add a second to his closet this year.
Pickett has kicked 211 goals from 133 games after being selected with pick 12 in the 2019 AFL Draft.
