AFL grand final: Marlion Pickett hailed as ‘cult hero’ for Richmond
The roar that reverberated around the MCG after Marlion Pickett kicked accurately for Richmond was astonishing.
As Marlion Pickett was stepping up to the premiership dais to accept a medallion in capping perhaps the most remarkable AFL grand-final story in history, mayhem was breaking out in the middle of the MCG.
His four children Marlion Jnr, Latrell, Shaniquae and Levi were having a ball in the centre of the ground, mucking around with a football, belting into each other and having the time of their lives.
They might well have been the only Tigers fans in attendance at the MCG not completely amazed by the debutant’s stunning performance in Richmond’s 87-point grand-final win over the Giants.
So well did the 27-year-old, who became just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to debut in a grand final, perform, he received votes in the Norm Smith Medal.
Best afield in Richmond’s VFL premiership last Sunday, Pickett finished the grand final with 22 possessions, with eight of them thumping the football into the Tigers attack.
The most memorable moment of a one-sided grand final came in the third term when Norm Smith Medallist Dustin Martin found Pickett in attack.
The roar that reverberated around the MCG after the former South Fremantle star kicked accurately was astonishing.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said it was a moment that he would remember forever, describing the atmosphere as Pickett kicked the goal as remarkable.
“It is something I will never forget with the crowd as well. It is one of those moments where you know where you were when that happened,” he said.
“I probably thought that [Dustin] might pass it when he was a little bit open, because he just loves the kid. Then to see all 21 other players get to him and the crowd [roaring], we have a cult hero, haven’t we?
“He was incredible today.”
Martin, the Norm Smith Medallist, quipped that he was a little bit tired and looking to lay off when he spotted Pickett within range.
That underplays the extraordinary vision that Martin possesses and the remarkable skill of the kick.
“I thought it was a little too far out for me, but I saw him out of the corner of my eye and just gave him a little nod and just popped it there for him nicely,” he said.
“It was an amazing story and I couldn’t be prouder that he went well today.”
Hardwick said the decision to select the former WAFL star ahead of Jack Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh was the toughest of his career, though clearly Pickett’s performance is vindication that the call was the correct one.
“It was bad enough at the time. I didn’t sleep for two nights,” he said.
“It was one of those ones where he could provide us with the flexibility that we needed.
“Those other players were in the side at various stages but it didn’t come down to Thursday afternoon where we sat down and worked our way through what it looked like … and what is going to give us the best chance of the game being played on our terms.
“Marlion was the guy. The fact that he hadn’t played a single game of AFL footy to that point was a slight concern.
“But we went through it and spoke to our recruiters … and we had incredible faith at the end of the day that he would be unflappable. And he was. Look at the way he played. He looked like he had played 100 games.
“It is a credit to our organisation for giving him a chance but a lot of people did a lot of work to put him in this space to play.”
The blind-turn from Pickett when he span out of the centre early in the second term was an indication of his confidence and talent.
“I think he is just one of those players where time sort of stands still,” Hardwick said.
“Scott Pendlebury, this guy a little bit as well, where he just can sense the game and what is going to happen before it happens.
“There were times today where I thought he was going to get run down but he still managed to get a handball away.”
Hardwick praised the Richmond recruiting department for taking the gamble to select the 27-year-old in the mid-season draft when a spot opened up following Shaun Grigg’s retirement. That, too, was a selfless decision.
Pickett spent time in jail in his late teens for offences including aggravated burglary but never gave up his hope that football might prove a way out of trouble.
It is a remarkable story, but Hardwick said the Tigers deserved praise for making a decision that others baulked at.
“You have to give credit where credit is due,” he said.
“Our recruiting staff took a punt on this kid. He is an outstanding story but they forgot the back story and just looked at the kid on his ability level.
“Our club deserves a lot of credit for the network we put in to get his family across and support him. It has been a power of work.
“Marlion gets the pats on the back today but there are a lot of people in the background who deserve the plaudits for what we did today.”
Martin initially housed Pickett before his family moved across to where they now live in Thornbury.
“I said it straight after the game that I am so proud to be a part of this club,” he said.
“They gave him a chance. It is just awesome. Just the way he came in, he put his head down and worked hard and it is such a great story.
“I am super proud of the club for giving him a chance and super proud of him as well.”
A VFL premiership last weekend. The most remarkable debut in AFL history today. It will take something special for Pickett to satisfy his four kids next weekend.
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