Marlion Pickett has a new local footy home, signing for a struggling club

Two-time Richmond premiership star Marlion Pickett has chosen his local footy home for 2025, signing for a struggling western suburbs club.

Marlion Pickett celebrates Richmond’s premiership win in 2019.

Two-time Richmond premiership player Marlion Pickett has a new home.

The retired 91-game Tiger is heading for new Riddell District club Melton South in 2025.

Pickett was one of the most in-demand signatures in local footy after stepping away from his AFL career but chose the Panthers, joining coach Travis Hodgson.

It’s a giant boost to the struggling club, which will play in a new league next year.

South returns to the RDFNL after 28 years in the Ballarat Football League.

Former Richmond premiership player Marlion Pickett has joined Melton South for next season. Picture: Melton South Football Netball Club.

The Panthers haven’t won a game for more than two years, finishing last in 2024 with a percentage of 21.25.

However, the signing of Pickett and fellow former AFL player Sam Darley is expected to see the club turn itself around.

Hodgson said a pre-exisiting relationship had helped secure his services.

“I’ve known Marlion for a few years and when he found out was wasn’t going around again at Richmond, it was a few days before his last game, we started talking,” Hodgson said.

“Once he finished up we went further down the track with it.

“If you’ve got a connection with a player you always hope you can get them when they finish but you never know, there’s lot of people keen for his signature.

“Marlion is the sort of guy, shy isn’t the word, but he’s certainly not the type of shop himself around.”

Picket won a South Fremantle best-and-fairest and earned WAFL Team of the Year honours in 2018 before being picked up by Richmond in the 2019 mid-season draft.

Marlion Pickett in the 2024-25 NTFL men's Round 2 match between Tiwi Bombers and PINT. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

He was part of the Tigers’ VFL premiership that year and was awarded the Norm Goss Medal for best-on-ground.

In a whirlwind fortnight, he then made his AFL debut in the Grand Final against GWS the following week, becoming the first player to win a premiership in his debut since Francis Vine with Melbourne in 1926.

The star midfielder played 13 AFL matches this season, averaging 14.5 disposals, 2.6 tackles and kicking four goals.

He’ll now be arguably the biggest name in the Riddell District competition.

“It’s pretty big for our club - and the competition - to get a player straight out of the AFL with Marlion’s credentials,” Hodgson said.

“And it’s not like he limped to the line, he was still playing good footy in his last game against Gold Coast.

“Because he’s had a different start to his career, he’s probably played less footy than most his age and he’s still got plenty left in him.”

Co-incidently, Pickett and Darley are playing together in the NTFL for Tiwi Bombers.

The Bombers sit fifth on the Premier Division ladder after six matches, Darley has been named in the best in all six, while Pickett has been in the best five times.

Melton South will be looking to break a 39-game losing streak when 2025 kicks off.

Darley made a one-off guest appearance for the Panthers this season, racking up a league best 53 disposals.

The pair’s experience will be invaluable.

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“We are young, so his experience - and also Sam Darley - they’ll both bring a lot of experience and be invaluable for us,” Hodgson said.

“They’re playing together for Tiwi in the NTFL.

“The only downside is we don’t see them for most of pre-season but the up-side is you get them rock-hard match fit.

“They’re both genuine A-graders in the competition, they’d be A-graders in any local footy competition they went to.”