- Melbourne defeated the Adelaide Crows on Thursday evening
- Incident from the game could see a star in hot water
- Kysaiah Pickett could face a fine or suspension
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has been criticized by fans after making light of Kysaiah Pickett’s shot over Jake Soligo in the win over Adelaide on Thursday night.
The Demons star left the ground as he tried to smother a handball from the Crows midfielder, but struck him in the jaw with his elbow, leaving him sprawled on the ground.
In his post-match press conference, Simon Goodwin admitted the flashpoint will attract attention from the AFL – before laughing as he made light of the goal.
“Obviously he tried to smother a handball and that will be looked at over the next week, I’m sure,” Goodwin said.
‘But we’ll have to wait and see about that.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin (pictured center after the team’s win over Adelaide on Thursday night) has been criticized by fans for a post-match comment
Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett (pictured) could be in trouble after slamming his elbow into Jake Soligo’s head while trying to smother a handball
‘He applies enormous pressure, he tries to intercept the ball, that’s his game.
“He’s changed a lot of what he’s done before, and I don’t see that in his game much anymore. Tonight it’s a little different.’
He then smiled to himself and said, “It was pretty light” as the presser came to an end.
The hit bore some resemblance to Collingwood star Brayden Maynard’s botched choke, which knocked out Demons star Angus Brayshaw in last year’s elimination final.
Brayshaw was forced to retire at just 28 years old as the shocking blow proved too much for him after previously hitting his head.
Soligo (pictured) later downplayed Pickett’s hit, but fans were outraged as Goodwin for what they saw as a shocking take on the league’s deadly head knocking problem
The devastating news that his career had ended made him the latest in a long list of players to suffer shocking consequences from multiple concussions, with many concerned about contracting the fatal brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Fans were quick to condemn Goodwin for not taking the issue seriously.
“Ask Brayshaw if he thinks it was ‘light,’” someone wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Another echoed these comments, saying: ‘Do us a favor and ask Angus Brayshaw about ‘light’ head bumps.’
“Gotta love self interest – at least it’s an attempt huh @melbournefc – a bit of a different commentary around the Maynard incident,” a third added.
‘I can’t stand this guy. Light!! Do we take blows to the head seriously?’ wrote another fan.
Footy fans lifted Brayden Maynard’s hit against Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw (pictured) last year, leaving him concussed
However, Soligo downplays the Pickett incident.
Pickett will learn his fate later on Friday after his high contact on Soligo was investigated by match review officer Michael Christian.
Pickett jumped off the ground and made fleeting contact with Soligo during Melbourne’s 15-point win at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.
“I didn’t think there was too much in it,” Soligo told reporters on Friday.
“I kept playing the whole game, so it went well. I was completely sweet.’
Pickett received two suspensions last year for high punches on opponents.