Richmond make call on Marlion Pickett after $400k burglary arrest

Richmond have made a call on premiership hero Marlion Pickett’s immediate playing future after he allegedly stole more than $380,000.

Marlion Pickett of the Tigers. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Richmond has stood down Marlion Pickett for the Tigers’ Round 14 match this weekend.

The premiership player was on Monday granted bail after he allegedly stole more than $380,000 during a string of burglaries of commercial properties.

The 31-year-old faced Perth Magistrates Court on Monday on at least 12 separate charges, including aggravated burglary, stealing and criminal damage.

The charges relate to a series of alleged incidents which police claim occurred between December 2022 and January 2023, during the AFL off-season.

Pickett on Tuesday did not return to the club’s training headquarters as expected, having flown home to Melbourne on Monday night.

It was reported on Monday, Pickett was hoping he would still be cleared to play in the club’s Saturday night clash against St Kilda.

Richmond Premiership star Marlion Pickett, photographed outside Perth Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Philip Gostelow.

However, the club has knocked that on the head.

Tigers CEO Brendon Gale confirmed the club has made the decision with its top priority being Pickett’s “welfare”.

Pickett has been given approval to train with the club and be involved in the team’s preparations for the match, but will be watching from the sidelines come game time.

No decision has been made on Pickett’s long-term future at the club.

Richmond has a bye in Round 15, and Pickett will not be able to put his hand up for selection until the club’s Round 16 match against the Lions in Brisbane on June 29.

“It came as a bit of a shock,” Gale said.

“These are allegations. We’re going to operate on the presumption he’s innocent and justice will run its course. We think the best thing for him is to be back here, working hard.

“It’s been a big week, he spent one night in remand, he’s been to Perth and back, the emotional burden has been significant.

“He’s a very resilient character but not withstanding we have the bye next week and we felt that one or two weeks, it’s a watch, but we think that’s an appropriate amount of time for things to settle down.

“He’ll prepare with the team, he’ll train, he’ll be turning up and engaging, which we think is really important for him to do that at this stage and we fully expect him to play against Brisbane in two weeks’ time.”

Marlion Pickett of the Tigers. Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Gale said Pickett will be back around the club in coming days because there was “no better place” for him to be as he dealt with the issues that could take significant time, even years, to resolve.

The Richmond boss lauded Pickett as an “inspiration” for turning his life around after a previous two-year stint in jail before making it to the AFL.

“Nothing has come easy, but through the force of his will, against all the odds, through the love of his family and the care of football clubs, he’s turned his life around,” Gale said.

“He’s had to overcome a lot of challenges, some many of us could never imagine.

“He’s been an inspiration to me, to many.”

Pickett was arrested by WA Police on Sunday, only hours after helping the Richmond Tigers secure a 15-point win over the Fremantle Dockers at Perth stadium.

The Perth native was freed from custody just a day later after securing $50,000 bail and depositing a further $50,000 surety.

Pickett has played more than 70 games with the Richmond Tigers after making his debut in the 2019 AFL Grand Final – the first player to do so in almost 70 years.

In a statement, the Richmond Football Club told the ABC it “would continue to support Marlion and his family while these matters are dealt with”.

His Perth-based manager Anthony Van Der Wielen told the broadcaster the two-time premiership player intended to fight the charges.

“Due to the ongoing legal nature of the proceedings, Marlion, or myself will not be able to provide any further details, comment or clarification about the matter at this stage,” he said in a statement.

“We understand and respect the public’s interest in this matter, but we also implore all to respect the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, and to allow the legal proceedings to follow their due course without prejudice.”

The AFL star will return to the same court in August.

— with NCA NewsWire