Richmond’s Marlion Pickett volunteering at sons’ junior footy club

After a bruising battle with Hawthorn on Saturday, Richmond star Marlion Pickett was back on the footy field on Sunday helping out at his sons’ junior game.

Parents and supporters at West Preston-Lakeside’s junior football match on Sunday would have seen a couple of famous faces.

Richmond premiership star Marlion Pickett was doing his part for the Roosters, volunteering as an umpire escort during his sons’ match against Yarrambat.

Former AFL forward and Northern Football League legend Shane Harvey was also doing his part on the day.

The local footy goalkicking great was running the boundary as his son played for Yarrambat.

It’s not the first time Pickett has pitched in for West Preston-Lakeside.

Roosters’ junior president Frank Tomai said all the families did their part and the Pickett’s were no exception.

“Most family members do (volunteer), his boys play at West Preston in the under-12s,” he said.

“Throughout the whole club and other clubs as well in the NFL and YJFL family members volunteer their time to do jobs.

“Marlion played the day before but he was out there doing his obligations to the club, which was great.

“I had a little chat with him but I understand these footballers need their private life, so I try to keep away because they need their rest and just want to enjoy watching their sons.

“It might be an umpire escort, scoreboard or oranges and lollies, there’s 20 to 22 people that we roster around.

“No one gets any special consideration, they all put their hands up and do their part.”

Tomai umpired the match, stepping in to help ease the umpire shortage at local level.

He said it was fantastic to see two league footballers happily giving back on a Sunday morning.

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“Shane Harvey on the same day was running the boundary,” he said.

“I don’t know how often you get one current AFL and one ex-AFL player volunteering at a club but it does happen.

“This what happens at local footy, the community all pitches in.”

The Harvey clan came away with bragging rights as Yarrambat finished with 31-point win over the Pickett’s West Preston-Lakeside.