Majak Daw’s inspiring comeback from injury hits roadblock with hamstring injury in VFL

Majak Daw’s inspiring comeback could be hampered by injury after he suffered a hamstring injury playing for North Melbourne’s VFL side. But a mid-season draftee is firming to play his first game.

Majak Daw’s road back to North Melbourne’s senior side hit a speed bump when he went down clutching his left hamstring in the VFL.

In his fourth game back, Daw stretched to spoil in a marking contest, falling to the ground and grabbing his left hamstring during the second quarter.

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North Melbourne said Daw “felt something” and have kept him out of the second half of the side’s clash with Northern Blues due to a “hamstring awareness” issue.

Daw had three touches and had spent time in defence and the ruck before the incident occurred.

Q2 - We’ve elected to take a cautious approach with Majak Daw who had some hamstring awareness after a spoiling attempt. He won’t take any further part in the game.

NORTH 34 - 76 BLUES#BeAShinboner

— North Melbourne VFL (@NorthVFL) July 27, 2019

Majak Daw takes possession before being injured in the VFL. Picture: Mike Owen/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Meanwhile, one of the AFL’s best redemption stories will crank up a gear on Saturday when Richmond’s mid-season rookie draftee Marlion Pickett plays his first VFL game.

Tiger coach Damien Hardwick revealed the 27-year-old has overcome the finger injury which has kept him out since he joined the club in late May and will be right to take on Casey Demons at Punt Road.

“Marlion Pickett will play his first game in Richmond colours next week,” Hardwick said before he added that Josh Caddy and Jack Ross will also be available again.

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The mature-aged recruit has turned his life around after he spent two-and-a-half years in prison for minor burglary charges before being released in 2013.

He impressed recruiting scouts from a number of clubs with outstanding form at South Fremantle in recent seasons.

It was feared when Pickett badly broke a finger ahead of the mid-season rookie draft that it might cost him his chance at an AFL career.

Mid-season draftee Marlion Pickett is set to play his first game for Richmond in the VFL.

But the Tigers pounced on him with pick 13 and were prepared to give him the opportunity to chase his AFL dream.

At the time Pickett was recruited, Hardwick said: “The thing I love about our club is we sort of embrace those challenges.

“It adds to the person’s story and adds to our club’s story along the way. The one thing I will say about footy clubs is they are fantastic at wrapping their arms around and giving people a chance.

“That’s the great thing about sport in general — it allows people to grow and thrive and get better as a result.”

In May, the father of four told the Herald Sun of what the opportunity meant for him: “This means a lot for my family. Everything I do is for my kids and partner so they don’t have to worry about growing up like I did.

“I have been out since 2013, so the first week I go out I walked into South Fremantle.

“I have been honest with clubs. The past is the past and I can’t change what I have done but I can change who I have become.”