Marlion Pickett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marlion Pickett
Pickett in the 2019 AFL Grand Final Parade
Personal information
Date of birth	(1992-01-06) 6 January 1992 (age 33)
Place of birth	Perth, Western Australia
Original team	(WAFL)
Draft	No. 13, 2019 mid-season rookie draft
Debut	Grand Final, 2019, Richmond v. Greater Western Sydney, at MCG
Position(s)	Midfielder / half-back
Club information
Current club	Richmond
Number	50
Career highlights
AFL 2× AFL premiership player: 2019, 2020 State league VFL premiership player: 2019 Norm Goss Medal: 2019 best and fairest: 2018 WAFL Team of the Year: 2018

Marlion Pickett (born 6 January 1992) is a former professional Australian rules footballer. He played for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Pickett was drafted by Richmond in 2019 at age 27. Before this, he had a successful career with in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He even won a club best and fairest award.

He made history by winning the Norm Goss Memorial Medal in 2019. This was for being the best player in Richmond's reserves team premiership. The very next week, he made his AFL debut in a winning Grand Final. He was the first player in 67 years to debut in a Grand Final. He was also the first to win a premiership in his first game since 1926. Marlion became a two-time premiership winner with Richmond in 2020. This second win came in only his 20th AFL game.

Pickett is currently playing for the Tiwi Island Bombers. This team is in the Northern Territory Football League. He has helped them improve greatly and reach the finals.

Early Life and Football Journey

Marlion Pickett was born in Perth, Western Australia, in January 1992. He is the third of seven children. Pickett is a Noongar Aboriginal Australian man. He grew up in challenging circumstances.

He started playing football at age seven. He played with his older brother for the Puma Panthers in Balga. At age 11, his family moved to Manjimup. There, he played junior football for the Manjimup Tigers. He even won a Colts premiership with them at 14.

He returned to Perth in 2007 when he was 15. He played football for the Nollamara Junior Football Club. He also played for the senior Indigenous club, Koongamia. During this time, he faced some difficulties.

Pickett left school at 16. He continued playing football with Koongamia. He also played for the York Roos in the Avon Football Association when he was 17.

After facing some personal challenges, Pickett found a new path. He became a star player for the prison's amateur football team. This program was featured in a 2014 documentary series called Outside Chance.

State League Football Success

Pickett was released in June 2013 at age 21. He immediately joined the West Australian Football League (WAFL) club South Fremantle. His elder brother, Tommy, encouraged him to join. He quickly signed with the club.

He played his first reserves game in late June 2013. He had 15 disposals and kicked two goals. Within two months, he made his senior WAFL debut. In that game, he kicked three goals and had 26 disposals. Pickett helped the club's reserves team win a premiership that season.

By 2014, Pickett was a senior player. In 2015, he moved to the half-back line. He was chosen for the WAFL/Western Australia representative team. He also finished third in South Fremantle's best and fairest award. In 2016, he was again selected for the state team. He finished second in South Fremantle's best and fairest count.

In 2018, Pickett moved into a midfield role. He was often named among South Fremantle's best players. He won the club's best and fairest award that year. He was also named to the WAFL Team of the Year. He averaged 21.8 disposals per game. He had a great performance in the finals series. He recorded four goals and 26 disposals in one game.

After the 2018 WAFL season, AFL clubs noticed Pickett. He was expected to be drafted. However, he was not picked in the national or rookie drafts that year.

Before the 2019 WAFL season, Pickett was considered one of the best players in the league. He broke his finger in a practice match. This kept him from playing early in the season. In May 2019, while recovering, he met with Essendon and Richmond recruiters. He also had an AFL medical check-up.

He returned to play that same month. But he re-broke the same finger in his second game back. This happened just days before the mid-season draft. He had played 98 games and kicked 37 goals for South Fremantle.

AFL Career Highlights

2019 Season: A Dream Debut

Pickett was drafted by Richmond in May 2019. He was the 13th pick overall in the 2019 mid-season rookie draft. A spot opened up on the team after Shaun Grigg retired. Grigg later presented Pickett with his first match guernsey.

Pickett worked hard on his fitness while recovering from his injury. He joined the club's rehab group. He started full training in late July. He made his reserves debut for Richmond's VFL side in early August. He kicked one goal and had 20 disposals. He continued to play well in the VFL.

He played in the VFL Grand Final against Williamstown. He had 19 disposals, nine tackles, and a goal. He was named the best player on the ground. He was awarded the Norm Goss Memorial Medal. This win gave Richmond its first reserves premiership since 1997.

Grand Final Debut and Premiership

The following week, Pickett was considered for an AFL debut. This was because midfielder Jack Graham was injured. When Graham was ruled out, Pickett was chosen to play. He made his debut in the 2019 AFL Grand Final against Greater Western Sydney.

He became only the sixth player in history to debut in a VFL or AFL Grand Final. The last player to do so was Keith Batchelor in 1952. Richmond won the Grand Final by 89 points. Pickett also became the first player since 1926 to win a premiership in his very first game.

Pickett was one of the best players in the Grand Final. He finished third in the Norm Smith Medal voting. He had 22 disposals and kicked his first AFL goal in the third quarter. His season ended with one AFL match and six VFL matches. He won premierships at both levels.

After the Grand Final, Pickett was featured in Australian Story. He shared that his first goal was dedicated to loved ones he had lost. He pointed to the sky to remember them.

2020 Season: Second Premiership

In the 2019/20 off-season, Pickett became a Richmond life member. This was for playing in the 2019 premiership team. He trained hard in the pre-season. He earned a spot in the team for the first match against Carlton. He had 14 disposals and five tackles in the win. This game was played under special rules due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The season was paused for 11 weeks. When it resumed, Pickett continued to play for Richmond. He earned an AFL recall in round 6. He then secured a spot on the wing. He had strong performances in July and August.

Pickett had career-best numbers in a win against Essendon. He earned a Coaches Association Award vote in round 15. He played well in the finals series. He was praised by coach Damien Hardwick for his defensive efforts.

One week later, Pickett became a two-time AFL premiership player. This was in only his 20th AFL game. Richmond defeated Geelong at the Gabba. He had 14 disposals in the win. He was praised for his dedication to help his teammates defensively. He played 19 of 21 possible games that season.

2021–2024 Seasons

In October 2020, Pickett signed a new two-year deal with Richmond.

In the 2022 season, Pickett averaged a career-high 16 disposals. He re-signed with Richmond for the 2023 season in August 2022.

In 2023, Pickett played a career-high 21 games. He sometimes played as a key forward or ruckman.

In the 2024 season, Pickett played the first 12 matches. He then had a calf injury. After two VFL matches, he returned for Richmond's final game. In August 2024, Pickett announced his retirement from the AFL. He finished his career with 91 games for the Tigers.

Player Profile

Pickett mainly plays as a wingman. He also sometimes plays as an inside midfielder. Earlier in his state-league career, he played as a half-back. In his debut AFL game, he played as an inside midfielder and half-forward. Since 2020, he has been a dedicated winger.

He is good at winning the ball in contested situations. He also has speed and composure when carrying the ball in open play. He is known for his strong vertical leap.

AFL Statistics

Updated to the end of opening round, 2024.

Notes

Honours and Achievements

AFL

• 2× AFL premiership player: 2019, 2020
• Richmond Football Club life member 2020.

VFL

• VFL premiership player: 2019
• Norm Goss Memorial Medal: 2019

WAFL

• South Fremantle best & fairest: 2018
• Western Australia state-league game representative: 2015, 2016

Personal Life

Marlion Pickett is a Noongar Aboriginal Australian man.

His father is a cousin to former North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Melbourne player Byron Pickett.

Marlion has four children with his partner, Jess Nannup. They met and started dating when he was 16.

Images for kids

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  Pickett in the 2019 Grand Final Parade