Byron Pickett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Byron Pickett |
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Pickett playing for Melbourne in 2007
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Byron Pickett | ||
| Nickname(s) | Choppy | ||
| Date of birth | 11 August 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Kellerberrin, Western Australia | ||
| Original team | Port Adelaide (SANFL) | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Byron Pickett (born 11 August 1977) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He played for the North Melbourne Football Club, Port Adelaide Football Club, and Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Byron was known for being a strong player. He was famous for his hard tackles and tough style of play. He is one of only 12 players to have won two AFL premierships and a Norm Smith Medal, while also playing over 200 AFL games. In 2005, he was chosen for the Indigenous Team of the Century. This team honors the best Aboriginal players in the history of the game. Byron Pickett stopped playing AFL at the end of the 2007 season.
After leaving the AFL in 2007, he continued to play football semi-professionally. He played for the Port Adelaide Magpies in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Byron is also related to other famous players. He is the uncle of Kysaiah Pickett, who plays for Melbourne. His cousin Thomas was the father of Marlion Pickett, a player for Richmond.
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Early Life and Football Beginnings
Byron Pickett was born in Kellerberrin, a country town in Western Australia. He grew up in Tammin and then Geraldton, Western Australia. Later, his family moved to Port Lincoln in South Australia.
Pickett played most of his junior football for the Mallee Park Football Club. This club has produced many top footballers. Some of these include Peter and Shaun Burgoyne, Graham Johncock, and Daniel Wells.
His talent was noticed by the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club Port Adelaide. Pickett started playing in Port Adelaide's junior teams. He would travel a long way to Adelaide every weekend for games.
Even though he only played in the under-19s for Port Adelaide, the senior coach, John Cahill, wanted him for their first AFL season in 1997. However, Pickett felt homesick and decided not to join. He later entered the 1996 AFL Draft. There, he was picked by the North Melbourne Football Club.
Byron Pickett's AFL Career
Byron Pickett played for three different teams during his time in the AFL. He was known for his strong play and important contributions.
Playing for North Melbourne (1997–2002)
Byron Pickett, also known as "Choppy," started his AFL career in 1997. He played just one game that year for the North Melbourne Football Club. In 1998, he had a great season. He was given the Norwich Rising Star award for being one of the best young players.
Pickett was not a tall player, standing at 178 cm and weighing 86 kg. However, he was very strongly built and incredibly tough. He became known for his aggressive way of going after the ball. He was also famous for his hard tackles and bumps.
In 1999, he was part of the premiership team with the Kangaroos. After the 2002 season, he moved to the Port Adelaide Football Club. This was the club he had played for as a junior in the SANFL.
Success with Port Adelaide (2003–2005)
Byron Pickett joined Port Adelaide in 2003. That season, he kicked 43 goals in 25 games. This made him the second-highest goal scorer for his team in 2003.
He was a key player in Port Adelaide's first-ever AFL premiership in 2004. In that Grand Final, he had 20 possessions and kicked 3 goals. His excellent performance earned him the Norm Smith Medal. This award goes to the best player on the field in the Grand Final.
At the end of the 2005 season, Pickett was traded to the Melbourne Football Club. He had a short but very successful time at Port Adelaide.
Time with Melbourne (2006–2007)
Pickett moved to the Melbourne Football Club for the 2006 season. He wore the number 33 jersey, which was previously worn by another Aboriginal player, Jeff Farmer. He continued his tough style of play at Melbourne.
In 2006, Pickett faced some challenges. He had a few hamstring injuries that kept him out of several games.
The 2007 season started slowly for Pickett. He was not chosen for the first few games because he wasn't fit enough. However, he returned to play in Round 4. He continued to make strong tackles during games.
Later in 2007, the Demons suspended Pickett for a few weeks. This was because he missed a game. There were also concerns about his weight and how much effort he put into pre-season training.
Even though some people thought he was getting slower and heavier, he still made a big impact in games. He kept scoring goals and making important plays that could change the game.
Byron Pickett announced that his last game of football would be on Sunday, September 2, 2007. He retired along with his teammates Clint Bizzell and Nathan Brown. He even kicked a goal in his final game against Carlton.
Life After AFL
After retiring from the AFL, there were rumors that several country football clubs in Victoria wanted Pickett to play for them. Eventually, Pickett went back to play for Port Adelaide in the SANFL in 2008 and 2009.
He also became involved with Port Adelaide's Football Academy Program. In this program, he helps mentor young Aboriginal players. He shares his experience and knowledge to guide them.
Honors and Achievements
Byron Pickett achieved many great things during his football career.
Team Success
- AFL Premiership (Kangaroos): 1999
- McClelland Trophy (North Melbourne): 1998
- Pre-Season Cup (North Melbourne): 1998
Port Adelaide
- AFL Premiership (Port Adelaide): 2004
- McClelland Trophy (Port Adelaide): 2003, 2004
Individual Awards
- Norm Smith Medal: 2004
- All-Australian: 1999
- Indigenous All-Stars Representative Honours: 2005, 2007
- AFL Rising Star Award: 1998
- AFL Rising Star Nominee: 1998 (Round 3)
