Bill Picken: Former Magpies champ remembered by his country club

Bill Picken was a much-loved figure at Hamilton Kangaroos. See how the club remembered the Collingwood champion.

The country club where Bill Picken played out the final part of his brilliant career has joined in the tributes to the former Collingwood star whose funeral will be held in Hamilton on Thursday following his recent death.

Picken started and finished his career in Collingwood’s old recruiting zone in southwest Victoria, firstly as a player at Macarthur and lastly as coach of Hamilton Magpies.

His first stint as coach of Hamilton Magpies was from 1990 to 1992 followed by another season in 2005.

Hamilton Magpies and Hamilton Imperials merged in 2012 and entered the Hampden league as Hamilton Kangaroos.

Southern Grampians Shire curator Peter Hardy with his tribute to Bill Picken on Hamilton’s Melville Oval. Picture: Marcus Lowerson

The Kangaroos had a home game on Saturday and in the lead-up Peter Hardy, a curator with Southern Grampians Shire, was given the job of coming up with a suitable tribute to Picken at the club’s ground, Melville Oval.

Picken’s famous No. 25 jumper took centre stage on the wing.

“It was a real honour to do it,” Hardy said.

“It went a bit crazy on social media.

“But it was worth it, they are a lovely family and have done a lot for the community.”

Picken’s sons Marcus and Liam inspected Hardy’s work late on Friday.

“They’ve just lost their dad so it was quite an emotional moment,” Hardy said.

Another son Sean plays in the Kangaroos’ reserves and wears the No. 25 jumper.

Bill Picken’s famous No. 25 jumper number at Melville Oval, Hamilton.

Picken also coached Hamilton’s under-18s to two flags in the early 2000s with Liam in the team before graduating to seniors and kicking five goals in the club’s senior premiership win in 2004.

Liam later played for the Western Bulldogs and was a star player in their 2016 against-the-odds flag.

Marcus also played at AFL level with Brisbane and returned to Hamilton to play under his father in 2005.

Club president Lachy Webb said Picken had died “way too young” at the age of 66.

“He was still a very important member of our club,” he said.

“He was a regular on Thursday nights up on the hill with the boys, who watch training and have a quiet drink.

“He was still an active member of the community and there are a lot of people very sad about what’s happened.”

Simon Cullinane was president of Hamilton Magpies when they enticed Picken home to coach.

Bill Picken was a farmer near Hamilton at the time of his death at the age of 66.

Hamilton finished minor premiers in 1990, but didn’t make the grand final and in Picken’s final game as a player the following year he booted 12 goals.

Cullinane said Picken’s biggest coaching success came with the club’s under-18s.

“For the three or four years he coached them I believe we got the pick of the kids in the local area coming to Hamilton because they wanted to have the coaching and guidance of Bill Picken,” Cullinane said.

“A lot of those kids progressed through to senior level.

“There are a lot of people in this area who knew about his footy exploits because we all saw him play.

“But we’re going to miss him because he was our mate.

“He was just a champion bloke.”

Picken’s funeral will be held at his old school, Monivae College.

Originally published as Bill Picken: Former Magpies champ remembered by his country club