Melbourne premiership defender Trent Rivers is tipping young stars Luke Jackson and Kozzy Pickett to go to another level this year.
Jackson and Pickett were the respective third and 12th picks in the 2019 draft, with Rivers already looking a bargain selection at No.32 that year.
They were all senior regulars last season and played important roles in the Demons’ drought-busting grand final triumph over the Western Bulldogs in Perth.
Asked which of his teammates had shone brightest this pre-season, Rivers didn’t hesitate nominating Pickett and Jackson, who is out of contract at season’s end.
“I think Kozzy is always exciting. He’s looking really fit and so is ‘Dogga’ Jackson,” Rivers told the Melbourne website.
“I reckon it’s going to be something exciting this year (with those two).”
Rivers, 20, played all 25 games last year and established himself in defence, axjmtzywveraging 15 disposals and five intercept possessions in an impressive second season at AFL level.
“It gives me confidence in my game (but), obviously, there’s still a lot to learn,” he said.
“I’m a young player and I’ve got some great mentors around me, so I’ll just get what I can off them and continue to grow my game.
“My body adapted to the pre-season a lot better than the first and second year and I think I’m a lot fitter and stronger than I was in the last couple years, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Rivers, who, like Jackson, had his tonsils removed post-season, said the Demons’ premiership triumph was great to be part of but counted for little this coming season.
“I think everyone can sort of put it in their back pocket and we know that we’ve done it before, so we can do it again,” he said.
“But I think we’re back to level-headed and it’s an even playing field again, so we’ve just got to go out and do what we did last year again.”
