Byron Pickett: Broke footy legend who once earned almost $300,000 a season opens up about having to explain to his kids why he doesn’t own a house or car after stellar 11-year career
- Pickett doesn’t have much to show for a great football career
- He claims his former agent stole money from him
- Says his children ask him where all the money went
Footy great Byron Pickett has opened up about his heartbreaking financial struggles since retiring, including having to explain to his children why he doesn’t have a car or a house.
The dual premiership star who played for North Melbourne, Port Adelaide and Melbourne was a human standout in his prime, with his bone-rattling bumps and huge kicks giving opponents nightmares.
When he played for Port he was paid almost $284,000 per season (before tax), but these days Pickett has nothing to show for his 11-year career.
The 46-year-old West Australian is still renting, has no car and had to explain to his children where all the money went.
Byron Pickett (pictured with his family outside an Adelaide court this week) has spoken about his heartbreaking financial struggles since retiring
The footy great (pictured playing for Port Adelaide in 2005) was known for his hard-hitting play and is recognized as one of the best indigenous stars in AFL history.
‘The children asked me over the years: ‘Where is the money? What happened? What did you do?’” Pickett said The advertiser.
“Dad, you played AFL for eleven years, but we don’t even have a car, we don’t have a house. Where has all the money gone?
“I didn’t have an answer to it.”
The football champion claims his former agent Kym Richardson stole more than $250,000 in cash from him – and Pickett is now taking legal action against the AFL Players’ Association, claiming his duty of care to him has been breached.
Pickett claims Richardson withdrew $253,920 without his permission from a bank account opened for him in December 2001.
“Kym had exclusive control of the debit card, checkbook and online banking services for the Pickett account,” claims a claim filed in the South Australian Supreme Court.
The footballer accuses his former agent of profiting from real estate transactions he did not understand.
Pickett says he will continue his legal battle for the sake of his family
Pickett plans to “get back what I deserve” and will continue legal action.
“I’m not actually doing it for myself,” he said. “I do it for my children, for my family.”
Richardson has said the allegations against him are “absolutely false.”
“I respected Byron and cared for him immensely, on a number of occasions even saving or reviving his AFL playing career,” he said.
“As far as I know, as a significant period of time has passed, Byron took care of his own finances from his first year in 1997 through 2001. The trust was not opened until 2001.”
The big man played in 204 AFL games and was instrumental in flag-winning seasons for the Kangaroos in 1999 and Port in 2004.
He won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the Power’s 2004 grand final victory over Brisbane and is a proud member of the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Pickett retired after playing the 2007 season with the Demons, finishing his career with 204 games and 177 goals to his name.