Marlion Pickett returns to Richmond training after being hit with serious burglary charges

Marlion Pickett was hit with serious burglary charges in Perth on Monday, but he returned to Richmond to pats on the back.

Marlion Pickett returned to training after being charged with a string of offences. Picture: Michael Klein

Troubled Richmond premiership player Marlion Pickett was welcomed back to training on Thursday and triple-premiership captain Trent Cotchin said his teammates would “be right behind” him as awaits the outcome of serious charges.

After being held in remand in Perth on Sunday night, the 31-year-old was charged with four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of stealing and three of criminal damage.

Pickett was granted bail after he allegedly stole more than $380,000 during a string of burglaries of commercial properties between December 2022 and January 2023.

After club chief executive Brendon Gale said the Tigers would continue to support Pickett, he returned to training on Thursday morning to a media throng.

Cotchin, who will celebrate his own 300th game this weekend, said it was “important” to have his premiership teammate back at the club.

“It was good to have Marlion in this morning out there training,” Cotchin said.

“He’s such an important part of our footy club and our team.

Trent Cotchin is set to play his 300th game. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“What he brings is really special from a leadership point of view, not just Indigenous boys but our whole group.

“Knowing the person that Marlion is, he’ll stay strong and we’ll be right behind him.”

Cotchin said he and the playing group had no sense of what was happening with Pickett before the charges despite a concession from Gale the club knew he would be speaking to police in Perth last weekend.

He did so after Richmond’s win over Fremantle last Saturday night, with the charges then laid.

“I don’t think the playing group had awareness of it, which is a credit to the way that our management have managed that process. I’m sure it will be all dealt with in due course,” Cotchin said.

Marlion Pickett is welcomed back to training by Jacob Hopper. Picture: Michael Klein.

Pickett, who won’t face St Kilda this weekend but hasn’t been stood down and is likely to return in round 16 against Brisbane, has not addressed the playing group about the matter.

But Cotchin, echoing the words of Gale who said the club would work on the presumption Pickett was innocent, said he wouldn’t be making assumptions.

“My response was as it is with everyone; I don‘t like to make assumptions. That’s one of the rules that I go by,” he said.

“We love Marlion for who he is and what he brings to our footy club, and we‘ll be right behind him.”