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Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett has copped a two-match ban for a high bump on Bailey Smith but Simon Goodwin doesn't want the speedster to change his approach.
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has urged Kysaiah Pickett to continue playing on the edge despite the livewire's instinct landing him in hot water.
Pickett has been hit with a two-match ban for his high bump on Western Bulldogs superstar Bailey Smith during the Demons' thumping 17.13 (115) to 9.11 (65) win at the MCG.
Fortunately for Goodwin, he is set to welcome back four premiership players from injury for the round-two clash with Brisbane on Friday night.
Bayley Fritsch (foot), Christian Salem (thyroid), Jack Viney (knee) and Steven May (calf) are all poised to return against the Lions.
It gives Goodwin a selection headache, though the ban for fleet-footed forward Pickett, who has been primed to spend more time in the midfield this season, opens up at least one spot.
Pickett, who starred with four goals against the Bulldogs, left the ground and made contact with his shoulder to Smith's head, but the prolific midfielder was not seriously hurt and played out the game.
Pickett will miss games against Brisbane and Sydney if he submits an early guilty plea.
Goodwin admitted the Demons had immediate concerns around Pickett's short-term availability after the bump on Smith, which was always going to attract attention from the match review officer.
But when asked if he would speak to Pickett about tempering his approach to contests, Goodwin was resolute.
"You could see straight after he sort of checked and stopped straight away," Goodwin said.
"To Bailey Smith's credit, he got up and gave Kos a tap as well, but I won't be talking to him about that.
"He plays the game on the edge, on the line and he commits his body to tackling ... he's a high-quality pressure forward."
Pickett finished with 19 disposals, 11 score involvements, eight tackles and three clearances against the Bulldogs, and was the equal-leading goal-kicker on the ground.
"He's a dynamic player and he hit the scoreboard for us but it was more his impact around pressure and tackle (that impressed)," Goodwin said.
"Every time the ball was coming out of our forward half it had genuine heat on it and Kossie was at the forefront of that."
Goodwin said he is "pretty confident" best-22 players, which includes Fritsch, Salem, Viney and May, will be available to take on Brisbane at the Gabba.
"They're all looking promising based on their training (on Saturday)," Goodwin said.
"It gives us a few headaches because we've got a lot of guys pushing for selection."