The Demons were made to work for three quarters before kicking away in the last to record a comfortable 19.12 (126) to 11.6 (72) triumph at the MCG on Friday night.
It extended Melbourne's positive start to life under new coach Steven King, improving their record to 5-2 ahead of a tough interstate assignment against ladder leaders Sydney next round.
Pickett dazzled with 29 disposals and six clearances, and underlined his brilliant performance with a spectacular mark over Campbell Gray in the dying seconds.
The explosive midfielder was awarded the Frank "Checker" Hughes Medal as best afield, just days after a flying trip to Darwin to visit his daughter for her birthday.
But Pickett's high contact with Richmond's Jacob Hopper in the final quarter will be looked at closely by the match review officer.
"I haven't seen it but I was just in awe of his game," Dees coach King said.
"To do that tonight, it's pretty amazing to watch.
"As a player and a performer that Kozzy is, the package he's got with skill, athleticism, courage - he's got that hardness about him - it's inspiring."
The Demons are also fearing the worst for Jai Culley after he went down with a left knee injury under no contact before halftime.
Culley previously ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in 2023 while playing with West Coast.
Caleb Windsor shone alongside Pickett, tallying 25 disposals and two goals, while Tom Sparrow (28 touches, nine clearances) and Brody Mihocek (three goals) were also influential.
Richmond's seventh straight defeat this season came in the absence of veteran defender Jayden Short, who was a late withdrawal when his pregnant wife went into labour.
Acting captain Jack Ross had 27 disposals in his 100th game, fighting hard for the Tigers alongside Dion Prestia (28) and Patrick Retschko (26).
Sam Lalor tallied 16 touches, seven clearances and one goal in his hybrid midfield-forward role, while key forward Tom Lynch kicked 1.1 from five shots at goal on his return from injury.
Richmond were within 11 points after kicking the first two goals of the third term before a flashpoint led to Mihocek's steadying goal for Melbourne.
Ben Miller was penalised 50m for moving in the protected area on the wing after a Mihocek mark, gifting the forward a crucial major.
It helped keep the Tigers at arm's length, before the Demons flexed their muscle in the last quarter, kicking the first five goals of the term to put the result beyond doubt.
"We were competitive for three quarters but we're at the stage right now where we just can't quite put a four-quarter performance together, especially against the better teams," Richmond coach Adem Yze said.
Bizarrely, boundary umpire Patrick Dineen took a tumble when trying to avoid a ball kicked in his direction in the second term and was taken to hospital with a left wrist injury.
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