Kozzy Recognised for Community Leadership

_{Ricky Mentha and Kozzy Pickett and Milpa the Goanna filming Clean Faces, Strong Eyes CSA in Nyrripi, NT (2026)}

Melbourne Football Club star Kysaiah (Kozzy) Pickett has been recognised as one of three finalists for the 2026 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award, acknowledging his contribution to community alongside his achievements on the football field.

Kozzy joined Western Bulldogs' Tom Liberatore and Fremantle's Bailey Banfield as finalists for the award, which recognises AFL players for outstanding commitment to community service and leadership. Banfield was announced as the 2026 recipient at the Brownlow Medal ceremony on Monday night.

Kozzy has worked with Minum Barreng since 2022 as a trusted ambassador for the Clean Faces, Strong Eyes campaign to eliminate trachoma in Australia. The Melbourne Football Club's involvement with Minum Barreng stretches back to 2010, with Aaron Davey and Liam Jurrah among the original ambassadors and many of Melbourne's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players contributing to the campaign over the years.

Through school visits, community engagement and health promotion activities across the Northern Territory, Kozzy has helped take important health messages to Aboriginal children, families and communities. His profile, particularly among young people, has helped turn public health messages into conversations that children and families can genuinely engage with.

_{L: Kozzy Pickett, Latrelle Pickett, Ricky Mentha and Milpa in Nyrripi, NT (2026). R: Kozzy at football clinic in Santa Teresa, NT (2023).}

This contribution formed part of the health promotion effort supporting Australia's elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in 2026 — an important national public health achievement.

Kozzy's recognition came during an outstanding night at the Brownlow Medal, where he also polled 20 votes for his season on the field and was recognised among the finalists for both Goal and Mark of the Year.

The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award honours the legacy of Melbourne champion and former club president Jim Stynes and recognises players who use their position in football to make a positive contribution to community. Kozzy follows another former Minum Barreng trachoma ambassador, Neville Jetta, who received the award in 2018.

Congratulations Kozzy on this well-deserved recognition — and thank you for your tremendous contribution to Clean Faces, Strong Eyes, to Aboriginal communities and to community more broadly.