WA Player Watch: Mitch Georgiades, Kysaiah Pickett, Rory Lobb, Jesse Hogan and North Melbourne’s WA stint ends

North Melbourne’s stint in Western Australia ended with a 1-1 record, while Mitch Georgiades boots seven in a career-best outing for Port Adelaide. Here’s the WA Player Watch for round 14. MITCH THE MAN A career-best game from Mitch Georgiades powered Port to a 25-point victory over Melbourne. The Subiaco product kicked a game-high seven goals, as well as four behinds, against a formidable Demons defence. His previous best was five majors. Along with his highest-ever goals haul, Georgiades had a career-best 18 disposals and 10 marks, including eight inside 50 at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. The 23-year-old also had a game-high 13 score involvements, four inside 50s and 429 metres gained. CASHED UP KOZZY ON FIRE Fresh off signing a monster deal to stay at Melbourne, Kysaiah Pickett proved he was worth every penny. Pickett signed an eye-watering nine-year deal worth around $12 million earlier this week, turning his back on serious interest from Fremantle to remain a Demon for life. The 24-year-old booted three impressive goals and was even dubbed a “natural-born footballing genius” by Seven’s commentary team. Pickett is a lock to earn his first All-Australian blazer in 2025, despite the Demons’ rollercoaster season. The Demons have the bye next week, although dashing defender Judd McVee could face scrutiny for a high bump on Port’s Joe Richards. McVee later gave away a free kick for a strike on Mitch Georgiades that led to a Power goal. HOPPY WITH THAT North Melbourne hopped out of Western Australia with a pleasing 1-1 record from their stint out west. The Roos pushed a finals-bound Fremantle right to the end, which followed a 10-point win over West Coast in Bunbury the week prior. The Roos will pocket significant cash for selling the games to WA, with a sell-out in the regional city and a strong crowd on a cold and wet night at Optus Stadium on Saturday. The question was posed to both coaches whether it would have been a North win on their own soil but Alastair Clarkson said he was comfortable that the club was doing what it needed to in order to “balance the books”. Six West Aussies featured against the Dockers, including ex-Fremantle defender Griffin Logue and premiership Eagle Jack Darling as well as Cam Zurhaar, Riley Hardeman, Zac Fisher and sub Robert Hansen Jnr. ANOTHER HAUL FOR HOGAN It was another huge haul for Jesse Hogan, who kicked six goals in Greater Western Sydney’s upset win over Brisbane at the Gabba to return to the pointy end of the Coleman Medal race. After Lions defender Jack Payne went down with a knee injury, the Giants forwards feasted in the 11-point victory, with Hogan now just six goals behind leader Jeremy Cameron (Geelong). Superstar defender Sam Taylor had a rare bag kicked on him, with Brisbane forward Logan Morris booting five, while premiership Lion Brandon Starcevich made a long-awaited return from concussion. LOTTA LOVE FOR LOBB Rory Lobb has continued his career-best season with another brilliant performance in defence, saving multiple goals for the Western Bulldogs. The former Docker had 17 disposals, nine marks and six intercept possessions in the 72-point win over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night to earn praise from coach Luke Beveridge. “He is just outstanding, Lobby,” he said. “His intercept game, he had double-figure spoils and used the ball well. “He played an outstanding game. And he was out there the whole night, didn’t come off (the ground). “Just a great teammate. I did mention him to the boys after the game. I just thought he was outstanding.”