Look, you've got to hand it to Steven King for getting his priorities straight from day one. The new Melbourne coach has given one of his star players the nod to sort out his personal life before the AFL season kicks into gear, and frankly, it's exactly the kind of move that builds genuine trust in a footy club.
Kysaiah Pickett flew to Darwin on Tuesday with the club's blessing, needing to be with his family during a difficult time. Pickett and his partner have separated, and they have a little daughter together. Rather than treating it as a distraction or a threat, King recognised it for what it is: a matter that needed sorting.
"We were pretty proactive with it," King explained. "Kozzy needed to get back for family reasons and I fully support any father at our club to make sure they get to support their family. That's something I want to provide flexibility for our staff and players that family is equally or more important than just the game of footy."
The Demons legend Garry Lyon spelt out the sensitive nature of the situation. "I'm told that Kozzie is very supportive of his partner's move back to Darwin and it's important for her to be around family at this time." The club is supporting Kozzie to ensure he can still be connected to the family while still getting the job done from a footy club point of view, and they're going to be pretty flexible for him to try and stay connected with his daughter."
Now, this might raise eyebrows in an AFL world where preparation for the new season is supposed to be sacred. Pickett missed a couple of key training sessions, which on the surface looks dodgy. But here's the thing about King's approach; he's not abandoning standards, he's being strategic about them. Pickett did those sessions remotely and returned on Thursday as planned, giving him time for Friday's main session before facing the Saints at the MCG on Sunday.
King has confirmed Pickett will line up against St Kilda despite the superstar forward spending several days in Darwin this week dealing with a personal matter. The bloke kicked five goals in a match simulation during the preseason, so his form isn't the worry here.
What matters is the message King is sending. Melbourne has spent the past two seasons struggling, finishing 14th on the ladder twice under previous coach Simon Goodwin. When you lose that badly, when your culture takes a battering, the little things matter. Showing players they're trusted, that their lives matter beyond Friday night, that a coach understands life isn't just footy? That's how you start rebuilding.
King's stated philosophy since arriving is all about giving players freedom and making them want to drive to training with a smile on their faces. This move backs that up. King said they'll give Kozzy all the time he needs to take care of his family and his daughter and he'll play, and they'll work that with him throughout the season as it progresses.
Is it a risk? Sure. But so is getting a new coach after your premiership mentor gets the boot, and so is trying to convince your best players to stick around when the club's in the doldrums. Sometimes the real risks in footy aren't about training sessions or conditioning; they're about whether your players believe you've got their back when it matters.