Marlion Pickett joins Tiwi Bombers for 2024-25 NTFL season

An NTFL club has announced the signing of a two-time Richmond premiership winner, who only recently announced his retirement from the AFL. Find out the details here.

The Tiwi Bombers have announced the signing of two-time Richmond premiership player Marlion Pickett, just a week after his AFL retirement.

Pickett made his AFL debut in the 2019 AFL grand final at the age of 27, just a week after he had produced a best on ground performance in the Tigers VFL win.

He went on to finish third in the Norm Smith Medal count as the club completed their 2019 premiership win, with 22 disposals and a goal.

Marlion Pickett of the Tigers kicks the ball during the 2024 AFL Round 24 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Pickett played the first 12 games of the 2024 season before he was sidelined with a calf injury, and ultimately called time on his career this month, with 92 AFL games and 27 goals.

The 32-year-old’s inclusion comes as the Bombers continue to push back towards the NTFL finals under second-year coach Patrick Bowden.

Tiwi enjoyed a huge uptick in form in the 2023-24 season and fed off a rejuvenated dressing room and the return of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

Tiwi coach Patrick Bowden said Pickett coming up as a full-time player would add so much value to the Bombers Football Club.

“We’re all very excited, he’s an unbelievable talent and footballer, and we’re absolutely excited to have him,” Bowden said.

“We’ve got a really young team and we’re looking to add experience around that.

“Last year we had Walla come up to play and really show some great leadership, and this we get Marlion to come up and play for us as well.

“The best thing is we don’t get him as a fly-in player, but we get him living here with his family, it adds so much value to our football club having him in Darwin full-time.”

Bowden said the club was also hoping McDonald-Tipungwuti would return to the outfit, while the young core the group had built was continuing to grow.

“We’re hoping that he can, he’s playing in Mildura at the moment so we’re hoping he can come back and play for us again after,” he said.

“The squad is looking really good, we’ve got that core group of young fellas that developed last year and have spent a lot of time playing in the Tiwi Islands League or down south in Adelaide.

“They’re injury free and they’re feeling good as they crack into preseason so they will be cherry ripe for the first block of games.”

Pickett will be joined by his partner Jess Nannup, who is a star footballer in her own right and will play for the Women’s Premier League team.

Jess won the Best & Fairest for Moonee Valley when she played under new Tiwi women’s Coach Dean Rioli in Melbourne.

Originally published as Marlion Pickett joins Tiwi Bombers for 2024-25 NTFL season