Richmond Tigers make shock call on Marlion Pickett’s AFL future after alleged burglaries in Perth
Richmond officials make big appeals on Marlion Pickett’s playing future after two-time premiership star went to court over alleged burglaries: ‘came as a shock’
- Richmond called Pickett
- Officials were ‘shocked’ at the allegations
- Have confirmed his playing future
Richmond has decided that premiership winner Marlion Pickett will not play this week, but has not withdrawn after his appearance in a court in Perth on Monday.
Tigers CEO Brendon Gale confirmed the club had made the decision ‘with due regard to his well-being’ and said they had made it with Pickett, who will continue to train and may even be present at Saturday’s game against St Kilda .
Richmond has a bye next week, but Gale said Pickett, who wanted to play this weekend, was likely to return in Round 16 against Brisbane.
Marlion Pickett, pictured leaving court from a string of alleged burglaries on Monday, will miss Richmond’s next match but will not be withdrawn by the club
Pickett made his debut in this 2019 Grand Final win, in what was heralded as one of the greatest fairytales in sport at the time
The Tigers star left Perth Magistrates Court on Monday with his manager Anthony Van Der Wielen (left) after being released on bail
Gale said the club would continue to support Pickett and “is operating on the presumption that he is innocent.”
“It came as a shock,” Gale said.
“But we assume he’s innocent. We will continue to support him.
“These are just accusations. But they are serious accusations. Justice will take its course.’
On Monday, Pickett was released on bail by a Perth magistrate after being charged with a series of alleged burglaries in which more than $380,000 was stolen from safes.
The 31-year-old two-time premiership player faces 12 charges, including four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of stealing and three counts of criminal damage.
A police prosecutor told the court that the alleged crime by Pickett and others involved a series of commercial break-ins that resulted in the theft of more than $380,000 in Australian and foreign currency.
Pickett had told club officials he wanted to play against St Kilda this week but failed to show up for training on Tuesday with a media mob confronting players as they arrived.
In court on Monday, Pickett’s attorney, David Manera, said the prosecution rested largely on allegations that his accomplices made deposits into the Richmond star’s bank account and that a motorhome rented in his name was used by the other men on the highway. had driven.
Pickett’s attorney David Manera told reporters outside court that his client should be given the presumption of innocence
Neither Pickett nor his manager, Anthony Van Der Wielen, responded after the hearing, but a statement made it clear that Pickett was entitled to the presumption of innocence.
“We understand and respect the public interest in this case, but we also urge everyone to respect the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and to allow legal proceedings to continue unabated,” said Van Der. Wheels.
Pickett played the first of his 70 games for the Tigers in the 201 AFL Grand Final. His contract expires at the end of the 2023 season.
More to come …