- Kysaiah Pickett’s partner has moved back to Darwin
AFL superstar Kysaiah Pickett has split with his partner Ardu Cubillo and left the club to spend time in Darwin to deal with personal issues as telling clues about the break-up surface on social media.
The 24-year-old travelled to the Northern Territory on Tuesday with the club’s blessing.
He is tipped to return for Sunday’s season-opening clash with St Kilda at the MCG.
Pickett and Cubillo have a young daughter Belleny, who was born in April 2024.
The couple no longer follow each other on Instagram.
In a revealing move, Cubillo has removed all photos of Pickett from her account, while he has kept images of her up on his.
AFL superstar Kysaiah Pickett has split with his partner Ardu Cubillo, with the Melbourne Demons midfielder-forward spending time in Darwin this week to deal with personal issues
Pickett and Cubillo – who no longer follow each other on Instagram – have a young daughter Belleny, who was born in April 2024
It comes after Pickett inked a seven-year contract extension last season with the Melbourne Demons worth a reported $12million
Cubillo moved back to Darwin to be with family after the relationship ended, which Pickett was reportedly supportive of.
Incoming Melbourne coach Steven King suggested Pickett will make regular trips to Darwin throughout the footy season.
‘Kozzie needed to get back for family reasons and I fully support any father at our club to make sure they get to support their family. It was a no-brainer for us,’ King said.
‘He will play (on Sunday). I want to provide flexibility for our staff and players.
‘(They should know) family is equally or more important than a game of footy, and we can make the two co-exist.
‘We will give Kozzie all the time he needs to take care of his family and his daughter.
‘He will be fine. We will work with him throughout the season.’
It comes after Pickett inked a seven-year contract extension last season worth a reported $12million.
He looms as a crucial figure in Melbourne’s rebuild after midfielders Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca departed the club at the end of 2025.
Drafted with pick No.12 in 2019, Pickett has booted 201 goals from 126 games and won a premiership in 2021.
