Pickett stays committed despite ACL tear, backed by Selwood
Jack Pickett, an 18-year-old AFL draft prospect, tore his ACL in April and hasn't missed a training session since.
Jack Pickett ruptured his ACL and strained his knee ligaments at Falcons training in April 2026, ending his season before it truly started. Four months into recovery, the 18-year-old is still showing up to every training session and game despite being unable to play.
Jack Pickett's commitment has impressed people around him. Pickett, a key forward from Geelong, kicked 31 goals in eight games last year before the injury.
He has now been running for five weeks and is still at least a couple of months away from non-contact training. Geelong legend Joel Selwood, who dealt with a similar knee injury during his draft year, recently met with Pickett to share his experience and offer guidance.
- 18
- Age
- 31 from 8 games
- Goals last year
- 4 months post-injury, 5 weeks running
- Recovery stage
Why it mattersRecruiters will ask Pickett hard questions about his recovery at the upcoming AFL Draft Combine, and his mental resilience off the field may matter as much as his physical progress.
AustraliaAFL club list managers will be watching how Pickett's ACL recovery progresses over the next two months before the draft, as knee injuries often reshape a prospect's draft position.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 d ago
