Marlion Pickett tight-lipped as he fronts for Richmond training, Trent Cotchin speaks out

Trent Cotchin has revealed how Richmond players have responded to Marlion Pickett facing serious charges as the Tigers star remained tight-lipped on his return to Punt Road.

Marlion Pickett arrives for Richmond Tigers training.

Triple-premiership captain Trent Cotchin has declared the Richmond playing group will “be right behind” teammate Marlion Pickett as he faces serious charges.

Pickett was held in remand in Perth on Sunday night, less than 24 hours after Richmond accounted for Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

On Monday he was hit with 12 charges including four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of stealing and three of criminal damage.

He returned to training on Thursday morning and declared the “club has been great” in supporting him.

Former Tigers skipper Cotchin said having his premiership teammate back in the fold was “important”.

“It was good to have Marlion in this morning out there training,” Cotchin said.

Marlion Pickett joins the main Richmond training session on Thursday. Picture: Michael Klein

“He’s such an important part of our footy club and our team.

“What he brings is really special from a leadership point of view, not just indigenous boys but our whole group.

“Knowing the person that Marlion is, he’ll stay strong and we’ll be right behind him.”

Pickett had been aware of Western Australian police’s interest in speaking in the lead-up to the game on Saturday night.

He was interviewed on Sunday, remanded and faced court on Monday where he was granted bail on the condition he check in weekly at Reservoir police station.

Teammate Jacob Hopper welcomes Marlion Pickett on the track. Picture: Michael Klein

Cotchin said that the playing group had no sense of the scenario before the game.

“I don’t think the playing group had awareness of it, which is a credit to the way that our management have managed that process. I’m sure it will be all dealt with in due course,” he said.

Pickett has not addressed the playing group in relation to the matter, Cotchin said, rather treating Thursday as “business as usual”.

He won’t face St Kilda on Saturday night in what will be Cotchin’s 300th game.

Cotchin said his response in the wake of the charges had been “as it is with everyone”.

”I don’t like to make assumptions,” he said.

“It’s one of the rules that I go by and we love Marlion for who he is and what he brings to our footy club. We’ll be right behind him.”

Originally published as Marlion Pickett tight-lipped as he fronts for Richmond training, Trent Cotchin speaks out