Marlion Pickett, a star player for the Richmond Tigers in the Australian Football League (AFL), has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses related to a series of alleged burglaries in Perth, Western Australia. The 31-year-old midfielder, who made history by debuting in 2019 grand final and winning two premierships with the Tigers, is facing 12 charges, including four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of stealing, three counts of criminal damage, one count of attempted stealing, and one count of receiving.
The alleged crimes
According to WA Police, Pickett was allegedly involved in several commercial burglaries that occurred between December 2022 and January 2023. He is accused of targeting businesses across Perth and neighboring towns and stealing more than $380,000 worth of cash and goods from their safes. Some of the items allegedly stolen include jewelry, watches, laptops, cameras, phones, and gift cards. Police also allege that Pickett caused significant damage to the properties he broke into.
Marlion Pickett’s Arrest
Pickett was arrested on Sunday, June 11, 2023, after he flew into Perth with his team for a match against Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. He was taken into custody by appointment and remanded until Monday when he appeared at the Perth Magistrates Court for a bail hearing. His lawyer argued that he should be granted bail because he had strong ties to WA and had cooperated with the police. However, the magistrate denied his bail application, citing the seriousness of the charges and the risk of reoffending. Pickett will remain behind bars until his next court appearance on July 4.
The reaction
Richmond Football Club issued a statement on Sunday night, confirming that Pickett had been charged and saying that they would continue to support him and his family while these matters are dealt with. The club also said that they would not make any further comment as this matter is now before the courts. Pickett’s manager, Anthony Van Der Wielen, said that Pickett had a strong intent to defend himself against the charges and asked for respect for his presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
Pickett’s arrest has shocked and saddened many fans and commentators of the AFL, who have followed his remarkable journey from a troubled youth to a football hero. Pickett grew up in a remote Aboriginal community in WA and faced many challenges and hardships in his life, including poverty, violence, drugs, and prison. He turned his life around through football and became an inspiration for many when he made his AFL debut in 2019 grand final at age 27 and won the Norm Smith Medal for best on the ground. He backed up his performance with another premiership in 2020 and has played 70 games for the Tigers so far.
The future
Pickett’s future in the AFL is uncertain at this stage, as he faces a lengthy legal battle and possible jail time if convicted. He is out of contract at the end of the 2023 season and may not play again for Richmond or any other club. His case also raises questions about how the AFL and its clubs deal with players who have criminal charges or convictions, and whether they should be allowed to continue playing or be suspended or banned from the league.
