Marlion Pickett arrest: Stood down Tiger on the verge of contract trigger

Marlion Pickett is close to a key contract milestone before Richmond’s decision to stand him down of for round 14 in the wake of his arrest in Perth.

Marlion Pickett. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Marlion Pickett is just two games away from hitting a trigger for a fresh deal at the Tigers.

Pickett was arrested in Western Australia on Sunday over a series of alleged burglaries with the Tigers preventing him from playing in Saturday night’s clash against St Kilda.

The round 14 clash would have brought him to within one game of winning a contract extension for 2024.

Marlion Pickett is just two games away from a contract extension. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Pickett, 31, has played 24 out of the past 25 matches as Richmond’s No. 1 wingman.

The West Australian, who made his AFL debut as a 27-year-old in the 2019 grand final victory has gone on to play 69 games.

Pickett will return to training at Punt Rd on Thursday and the Tigers expect him to play in the round 16 match against Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.

If Pickett plays that game and in the following Friday night contest against Sydney at the MCG he has hit the threshold required to command a new deal.

“We fully expect him to play against Brisbane in two weeks’ time,” Tigers boss Brendon Gale said on Tuesday.

Gale said it could take years for Pickett’s court drama to play out.

Pickett was granted bail by a Perth magistrate on Monday on the conditions he resides at his Reservoir address, reports weekly to a local police station, does not interact with his alleged co-offenders and provides a $50,000 personal surety.

The Tigers are operating on the “presumption that he is innocent” and are supporting their dual premiership player.

“I was shocked — but once again I need to remind you that these are only allegation,” Gale said.

Originally published as Marlion Pickett arrest: Stood down Tiger on the verge of contract trigger