Coach Paul Corrigan admits to wondering what he’s done to upset the footy Gods after draft hopeful Jack Pickett became the second Geelong Falcon in less than a week to suffer a serious knee injury.
Three days after Tom Steinfort ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the Round 1 loss to Dandenong Stingrays last Sunday, Jack Pickett suffered a similar fate at training on Wednesday night.
“He just came out for a mark and just got defended… and he came to ground and just felt his knee go when he hit the ground,” Corrigan said
“Just really innocuous again, mate. He would have done those contests a thousand times in games and training.
“We got the scan on it and got the report back early Friday morning that he’d torn his ACL and medial as well.
Pickett entered the 2026 season highly rated after impressing with Vic Country as a bottom-ager in 2025 and being part of this year’s AFL Academy.
He was best-on-ground for Team Docherty in the under-17 Futures Match on AFL Grand Final Day.
It’s those accolades that Corrigan expects will hold the Torquay product in good stead come November’s draft period.
“He’s done a huge amount in his bottom-age year,” Corrigan said.
“I think the potential that he’s shown, and what he’s done, I still think a club will take him, no worries at all.
“It’s just, unfortunately, he can’t live out his 18th year, playing for Vic Country and doing all that stuff as an 18-year-old would love to do
“I still think he’s highly, highly touted, mate, even off the back of this injury.”
Despite the double disappointment for the Falcons, Corrigan’s show great character to snatch a four-point win over the GWV Rebels at Mars Stadium yesterday, 11.11 (77) to 10.13 (73).
After leading by 14 points early in the final term, the Falcons conceded three consecutive goals to trail by seven points with just over five minutes remaining.
However, late goals from Kyan Walters and then Charlie Hanegraaf with less than a minute remaining helped the Falcons to their first victory of the season.
“To come back and find two goals like we did and then pinch the game, I think, shows a bit of resilience,” Corrigan said.
“The ebbs and flows of the week we had, it was nice for the boys to come away with the win.”
Skipper Noah Williams was again a standout, recording more than 30 disposals and 11 tackles.
“He really set the scene as captain all day,” Corrigan said.
“I think the way he’s going about it at the moment just shows the level he’s gone up from his bottom-age year.”
Round 3 again sees the Falcons travel to Ballarat, with a meeting against Oakleigh scheduled for Good Friday.
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