Melbourne Demons captain Max Gawn has stated what he'll do to ensure Kysaiah Pickett can play at his best for the club amid speculation he's set to leave.
Pickett was reportedly texting mates from Fremantle that he will arrive at the club next year and he liked a social media post about a potential move to the Dockers.
The goal sneak was linked to a trade in the 2024 off-season but nothing eventuated.
Demons president Brad Green has since told The Age that Melbourne would only agree to two or three first-round draft picks in exchange.
Gawn joked Green "may have gone rogue" before outlining how he'll handle the season with his wantaway star.
Max Gawn (left) and Kysaiah Pickett in 2022. Â AFL Photos via Getty Images
"I'm not naive to the game we play in and the way free agency is playing out," he said on Triple M.
"We have a kid (Pickett) who has family in WA and SA; at the moment the way I see it is let's put all eggs in (the basket of) making Kozzy play the best footy.
"I'm going to put my arm around him as much as I can and make him as comfortable as I can because this year we need him.
"Right now, I judge him by what I see, I don't worry about the rumours, I judge him by what I see Monday to Friday and get him to try and play the best footy he can for this year."
In mid-February, Pickett was asked about the texts ahead of the Indigenous All-Stars match.
He told reporters they "text like general friends".
"I've got friends. I'm allowed to talk to them, I guess. I'm contracted at Melbourne. I'm having fun there, and I love it at the club," he added.
Pickett did admit he'd suffered homesickness being at Melbourne.