Marlion Pickett Biography

A supporter who reached over the fence to touch Marlion Pickett is banned from attending matches until October 2024.

The Pickett incident occurred during the third quarter of Richmond's loss to the Western Bulldogs, when the patron stood up in his seat, leant over the fence and patted Pickett on the shoulder three times while he had his back turned.

The dual Richmond premiership player turned around and knocked a drink out of the supporter's hand in response.

"We love the interactions between players and fans, especially in the precious moments pre and post-game. However, what we saw on Friday night during the match is not acceptable and never will be," Kylie Rogers, the AFL's executive general manager, said.

Marlion Pickett has been granted bail by a Perth magistrate after being charged over a string of alleged burglaries in which currency was stolen from safes.

The 31-year-old appeared in the dock in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday, wearing a black sweatshirt.

A police prosecutor told the court the alleged offending by Pickett and others involved a series of commercial burglaries resulting in the theft of more than $380,000 in Australian and foreign currencies from within safes.

Pickett is facing 12 charges including four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of stealing and three counts of criminal damage.

Prosecutors opposed bail, saying there was a risk Pickett would reoffend if he was released.

Pickett's lawyer David Manera said the prosecution case rested largely on allegations deposits were made into his bank account by his co-offenders and that a camper-van rented in his name was driven interstate by the other men.

Magistrate Erin O'Donnell said the allegations were serious but she was confident Pickett did not present a significant flight risk.

She granted bail on the condition Pickett resides at his address in the Melbourne suburb of Reservoir, reports weekly to a local police station, does not interact with his alleged co-offenders and provides a $50,000 personal surety.

Marlion Pickett is taken into custody in Perth on burglary charges alleged to have occurred in December 2022 and January 2023.

"In response to the allegations, Marlion has a strong intent to defend himself against the charges," Pickett's manager Anthony Van Der Wielen said.

"Due to the ongoing legal nature of the proceedings, Marlion, or myself will not be able to provide any further details, comment or clarification about the matter at this stage."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick speaks about his brave call to include Marlion Pickett in the Tigers' 2019 premiership-winning side.

Pickett had just finished with 20 disposals, nine tackles and a goal to claim the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground in the VFL Grand Final, helping the Tigers to a thrilling three-point victory over Williamstown.

"Marlion just kept playing and he kept doing things that good players do," Hardwick said of Pickett at the time.

"You found yourself looking at him and he just put someone in space or he just did something that was quite special and you think, 'that's the difference between an AFL player and a VFL player'. He would do things that were AFL quality.

"That's when it really started to become evident that he could play."

Marlion Pickett signs a new with Richmond to remain at the club in 2020.

"Marlion's hard work and dedication has led him to Richmond, and we’re so proud of him for grabbing his opportunity with both hands," Richmond's list manager Blair Hartley said.

Richmond achieved redemption with a second premiership in three seasons, and redemption stories don't get much bigger than that of one-game wonder Marlion Pickett.

The mid-season recruit, who served two years in jail as a teenager in his native Western Australia, became just the sixth player to debut in a Grand Final, the first to do it in 67 years, and the first Tiger in 99 years.

Pickett, 27, then completed one of the most meteoric rises in football history by playing a starring role in an 89-point demolition of Greater Western Sydney, the midfielder gathering 22 possessions, three clearances, a goal and third place in the voting for the Norm Smith Medal after playing just 66 percent game time.

Marlion Pickett makes his AFL debut for Richmond at the MCG with 22 disposals (13 kicks and 9 handballs), 2 marks, a tackle and a goal in an 89-point win over GWS.

Richmond's coach Damien Hardwick says first-gamer Marlion Pickett just needs to play his role despite the hype surrounding his debut in a Grand Final.

"Every challenge he's had this year, he's raised the bar. I look at our VFL final against Essendon, we weren't playing that well and his last quarter helped get them over the line," Hardwick said.

"We just expect him to play his role, we don't expect him to be a match-winner. But we're looking forward to him bringing his strengths on the big stage."

Marlion Pickett will make history this week when he becomes the first player in 67 years to earn his AFL debut in a Grand Final.

Richmond informed Pickett on Thursday that he would be part of its team for the premiership decider, just four months after he was recruited to the club in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

He will replace Jack Graham in Richmond's team, with the midfielder ruled out earlier in the week after suffering a dislocated shoulder in Friday night's preliminary final win over Geelong.

Pickett, 27, won the Norm Goss Medal for the best player in last week's VFL Grand Final, enhancing his hopes of making a remarkable senior debut on Saturday's big stage against Greater Western Sydney.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says he is reticent to give mid-season recruit Marlion Pickett a shock AFL debut in the Tigers' qualifying final against Brisbane.

"Marlion's one of those guys you love the look of and you think 'he'd be able to add something to us', but you're a little bit unsure," Hardwick said.

"After another pre-season, he's going to be an incredible player for us. He certainly has a lot of upside."

Marlion Pickett moves in with Dustin Martin after joining Richmond via the Mid-Season Rookie draft, whom he will stay with for a week.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the club embraces the challenge of bringing in players like Pickett and Sydney Stack who may have dealt with personal, and controversial, issues in the past.

"The one thing I will say about footy clubs is they are fantastic at wrapping their arms around and giving people a chance," Hardwick explained.

"That's the great thing about sport in general - it allows people to grow and thrive and get better as a result."

Pickett is currently recovering from a finger injury that will sideline him for up to 10 weeks.

"Have you seen his tape? I would have picked him this week, I reckon, if he didn't break his finger," Hardwick said.

"I think he's capable, there's no doubt. Learning the system will take some time, absolutely, but the reality is good players are good players."

Richmond select Marlion Pickett with pick No.13 in the 2019 Mid-Season Draft.

Richmond select Marlion Pickett with pick 13 in the 2019 Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Pickett had long tried to put himself on the AFL radar but the stigma of his two-and-a-half-year jail stint as a teenager continued to linger.

Pickett approached his now agent Anthony Van Der Wielen, who he had known for six years through the WAFL, in a plea for help.

"It was about him not just being the guy who did two-and-a-half years in jail, because that was six or seven years ago and that was something he did when he was 17 or 18 years of age," Van Der Wielen said.

"Once we were able to get clubs to sit down and meet with him, they saw he's got a lovely family and four good kids, he's as fit as a trout and really clean-living and never misses a training session.

"I think people took the stereotype out and just saw him for who he is."

Marlion Pickett's AFL dream is almost certainly on hold after he underwent surgery to repair a freshly broken finger that had already ruined his season.

One of Perth's best hand surgeons, Dr Jeff Ecker, operated on Pickett's right index finger and inserted a small wire into it, and the midfielder is expected to miss between eight and 10 weeks.

The injury isn't expected to give the 27-year-old any ongoing problems once the break at the tip of his finger heals but it will likely mean he will be overlooked in Monday's NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Gold Coast and West Coast are tracking ready-to-go South Fremantle midfielder Marlion Pickett ahead of a near-certain step up to AFL ranks next season.

The Suns, keen to bolster their onball stocks, are reported to have spoken to the 26-year-old, described by one WAFL official as "hard as they come".