And the desire of the 27-year-old renown for his physical approach to a contest revealed itself in the form of continual showing of strength, three goals and some blistering and brilliant dashes in Saturday's game.
Like Damien Hardwick - another of just four Port Adelaide players who boasted grand final experience before this year - Pickett knew Brisbane would hit hard early. And along with Josh Carr, he helped his teammates gain the early ascendancy with a healthy show of muscle in the frenetic opening term.
Originally a Port Adelaide Magpie, Pickett returned to Alberton two seasons ago. He rated the experiences of contributing to the Power's first AFL premiership combined with best on ground honours as the highlight of a 160-game, eight-year career.
"It’s awesome to have played in the first premiership for this club and to get a Norm Smith is a personal bonus on top of that. It's a personal high," he said after the 40-point win, in which he gathered 20 touches and took eight marks.
"To be part of a first premiership of a club is pretty special and I think winning a Norm Smith is a bonus. There were probably two or three other boys that I thought were going to get it, but to get it is a bonus."
Pickett rebounded emphatically from a modest showing against St Kilda in last week's preliminary final and displayed of his assets - pace, physicality and experience - to help guide his underdog team in defeating the Lions.
"I think myself, (Gavin) Wanganeen and Peter Burgoyne we all had not very good games last week, so we had to step up and do some special magic stuff, and the boys did it."
Pickett kicked the last goal of the frenetic opening term to put his side 15 points up, and the first goal of the second term. He nailed a further major early in the third quarter and played a hand in a Gavin Wanganeen goal, before the highlight of his match - a seemingly never ending sprint from defence to attack in the last term.
"His games are all about playing in these (big) games. He goes hard at it, he can run and cause a bit of havoc with the opposition. They certainly want to know where he is," Power coach Mark Williams said after the game.
"We went out of our way a few years ago to get people like him."
"Byron did what he does and that's exactly what we hoped for."
Pickett said he also played a hand in settling his side at the half-time break, when the team was a point down, having lost a 15-point quarter time lead.
"All the experienced campaigners - myself, Wanganeen and Hardwick all said get your breath back and we'll start again."
Lions coach Leigh Matthews said Pickett's performance came as a surprise given the club's pre-match scouting advice that said that Pickett came off against St Kilda in the preliminary final after just a few minutes because of tiredness.
"So he's turned in an absolute burst today and he was fantastic. Byron Pickett has that capability that if he's on - if he gets 20 possessions - then you're going to be in trouble because he's such a dynamic player," Matthews said.
Pickett received his medallion with one of his three children, his 11-month-old daughter Lakeesha, and was supported by his mother Christina and father Byron senior, who travelled to Melbourne for the match.
The 2004 Norm Smith Medal final votes
Byron Pickett - 10
Gavin Wanganeen - 7
Kane Cornes - 6
Peter Burgoyne - 5
Roger James - 2
Judging panel - Clinton Grybas (3AW), Digby Beacham (Sunday Times - Perth), Michael Turner (K-Rock - Geelong), Roger Vaughn (AAP), Bruce Abernethy (Triple M - South Australia)
