Marlion Pickett charged for hit on former Richmond teammate in 2024-25 NTFL semi-final

Fresh from a ban for headbutting, Richmond premiership star Marlion Pickett has copped a second ban in four weeks after making big contact on a former Tigers teammate in the NTFL. Watch the video.

AFL grand final hero Marlion Pickett is facing a three-week ban, his second multi-week sanction in four weeks, after being charged with engaging in rough conduct in Tiwi’s NTFL semi-final.

The former Richmond Tiger was playing for the Tiwi Bombers against St Mary’s in the knockout semi-final in a defensive role.

Late in the first quarter Saints former Richmond player Kaelan Bradtke lined up to take a mark in attack when Pickett charged across.

Pickett is seen to jump and lay a hit on Bradtke which resulted in a free kick and easy goal for the Saints forward.

Marlion Pickett has been hit with a ban after a high shot on Kaelan Bradtke in the 2024-25 NTFL semi-final. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

St Mary’s were leading 2.4 (16) to 1.1 (7) following the incident and though Tiwi struck back they were ultimately beaten in their second final 11.11 (77) to 10.7 (67).

Pickett had just returned from a two-week ban he picked up in Round 16 against Southern Districts for head-butting Steven Motlop.

For the more recent incident Pickett has been slapped with a three-match ban for intentional conduct that made medium impact and high contact.

He can have the ban reduced to two with an early guilty plea.

As the Bombers are no longer in the NTFL the ban will carry over to his upcoming season with Melton South in the Riddell District Football League.

Marlion Pickett playing for the Tiwi Bombers against St Mary's in the 2024-25 NTFL semi-finals. Picture: Patch Clapp / AFLNT Media

Meanwhile, former West Coast player Connor West, playing for St Mary’s, avoided a ban for engaging in rough conduct against another former Eagle Ashton Hams in the same match.

As the incident was deemed careless with low impact and high contact the initial sanction was one match, meaning West will likely take an early guilty plea and reprimand allowing him to play in the prelim final.