Marlion Pickett [merged]

[one-eyed]

Totally unnecessary article

Wonder if Marlon is happy to read his private personal financial situation in the Age

It does seem a little invasive to plaster people's personal financial situation in a newspaper.  I wonder how the journos would feel if the same was done back to them?     

It's in the Herald-Sun as well.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/salary-squeeze-forces-marlion-pickett-to-apply-for-financial-aid/news-story/568ac451422bb14db9491cbd5c08d42b

[one-eyed]

Someone has set up a gofundme page.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-tiger-army-supports-marlion-pickett

[one-eyed]

Pickett’s redemption journey from jail to Grand Final hero was the central story of the AFL season launch back in March. It’s why Pickett’s manager, Anthony Van Der Wielen, is keen to see his client rewarded.

As pointed out in both stories run by The Age and the Herald Sun, the issue isn’t a case of ‘whingeing’, rather one of highlighting a celebrated player with an extraordinary story in the attempt of securing a better outcome.

Van Der Wielen said Pickett’s humility and resilience had helped him develop into a “role model” for the indigenous community, as well as anyone who’s faced similar obstacles.

He added you “can’t turn on a television at the moment without seeing Marlion’s image’’.

“Marlion’s handled it better than anyone else I know would’ve handled it and that’s because he’s come from fairly humble beginnings and he doesn’t want or need for a lot,’’ Van Der Wielen told the Herald Sun.

“He’s more worried about everybody else and how they’re going than how’s he going. That’s Marlion’s way.

“I’ve been involved with Marlion at South Fremantle and that’s the way he is. He’s as tough as they come. He’ll get through. He and his family will get through, don’t ask me how, but they will.’’

Like all players around the competition, all player contract talks have been put on hold.

Van Der Wielen said he was “pretty confident” another Richmond deal for Pickett would come to fruition by season’s end, claiming the Tigers “love him to death” and want him to stay long-term.

Upon learning of Pickett’s situation, Tiger tragic Matt Weiss felt compelled to start up a GoFundMe page dubbed ‘Help Marlion Pickett’.

“Lets help out a man and his family who gave us so much joy in a tough time,” Weiss wrote.

Weiss then added via Twitter: “I would like to offer help and hope others will also - How it looks if for others to judge.

“Club and AFL cant do anything but the people can help. Six months ago everyone feasted on what a great story... now he and his family deserve better.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-marlion-pickett-news-gofundme-page-players-hardship-fund-finance/news-story/a428f9527022aac66bfbacb248445ba3

[one-eyed]

Tigers reveal plan to help flag hero – and why the AFL should reward his ‘million-dollar’ story

Ben Waterworth - Foxsports
& SEN & The Age
22 May 2020

Richmond is attempting to lock in some “genuine opportunities” to assist Marlion Pickett in the midst of an “uncomfortable” short-term period for the 2019 premiership hero.

It emerged on Thursday night that Pickett, who’s on a reduced rookie wage at the Tigers in 2020 due to the league-wide player pay cut, had applied for assistance from an AFL players’ hardship fund amid the season shutdown.

Speaking extensively about Pickett’s situation on SEN Breakfast on Friday morning, Richmond football boss Neil Balme confirmed the club was working fastidiously to assist its much-loved player, who debuted – and starred – in the Tigers’ premiership triumph last year.

“We’ve been doing a lot of work with the AFL particularly and I’m pretty sure that will be resolved,” Balme told SEN Breakfast.

“The whole rookie thing is quite a challenge, particularly given these circumstances as well. And particularly a kid like him who’s got a wife and four kids – it’s not as though he’s just on his own.

“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes and we’ve got a couple of genuine opportunities for him to do which are valuable for both him and the community and our club which we’re pretty sure the AFL will respond positively to.

“I do feel for (the AFL) a little bit because everyone’s got a great idea to spend money outside of the (Total Player Payments) and a lot of them (the AFL) do have to knock back.

“They’ve been quite challenging on making sure that these are bona fide and I’m pretty sure we’re in a position where that will happen.

“If it doesn’t (happen) I’ll come back on the show next week and give them a cook. I think we’ll be able to do something for Marlion as well.”

Melbourne great Garry Lyon asked if these opportunities had been sourced outside the footy club.

Balme said Pickett would also likely join Richmond’s Korin Gamadji Institute which describes itself as “a unique educational and training facility that supports and incubates leadership and employment pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people”.

"They’re associates of ours, particularly with KGI we can get him to do a hell of a lot of stuff.”

Balme added: “In reality the Marlion Pickett story is just unbelievable in itself. The AFL should almost be giving him $1 million for his story in reality because nearly everything we’ve spoken about for two weeks after the grand final involved him, so it’s a bit of an anomaly in that sense too.”

Balme confirmed the Tigers would love to re-sign Pickett to a new deal but, like every player-club scenario around the league, couldn’t begin negotiations due to the shutdown restrictions.

“He’s a bit of an unusual one too because he was so late in getting picked up and we only signed his contract six weeks before the grand final initially in the first place anyway so we’ve been trying to re-sign but we’re not allowed to at the moment because of all the COVID restrictions. In the end that will work out for him but it’s been a bit uncomfortable for him in the short term, but I’m sure he’ll be right,” he said.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-marlion-pickett-news-richmond-work-opportunities-plan-financial-hardship-wage-salary/news-story/641c77a4623638f5fc2706c1ed26ffc2
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-should-give-pickett-1m-tigers-working-to-help-premiership-star-20200522-p54vgc.html
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/21/tigers-waiting-for-afl-approval-to-find-work-for-pickett/

[one-eyed]

AFL unlikely to allow Pickett to access GoFundMe donations

Peter Ryan
The Age
23 May 2020

Richmond's Marlion Pickett is unlikely to be allowed by the AFL to access donations from a GoFundMe page that has already raised almost $6000 since being set up on Thursday to help the premiership Tiger.

The GoFundMe page titled Help Marlion Pickett sprang up after The Age reported he had applied for financial help from the AFL Players' Association's hardship fund. The mid-season draft selection, who lives with his partner and their four children in inner Melbourne, was due to earn a rookie wage of $85,000 but the 50 per cent pay cut negotiated with players means he has been earning about $3000 per month minus tax and superannuation as he waited for the game to resume.

The salary cap is a key plank of the league's competitive balance policy and clubs must abide by the rules or face significant penalties. Although the AFL assesses each circumstance on its merits, the league confirmed on Saturday that it would be unlikely to allow players to receive money through crowd funding as the potential for abuse of the system would be too great.

Richmond's efforts to boost his finances have been the subject of ongoing discussion with the AFL as Pickett's earnings must be independent of the club to stay out of the salary cap. The Tigers were working with the AFL to gain permission for Pickett to work as a mentor.

Under the AFL's return-to-play protocols players have been told they are not allowed to work a second job, however the league understands Pickett's situation and is attempting to find a solution within the rules.

Richmond's Neil Balme told SEN on Friday the club was hopeful of getting a resolution.

"We’ve been working very hard behind the scenes, we’ve got a couple of genuine opportunities for him to do which are valuable for both him and for the community and for our club which I’m pretty sure the AFL will respond positively to," Balme said.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-unlikely-to-allow-pickett-to-access-gofundme-donations-20200523-p54vqb.html

[one-eyed]

On this day in 2019, Marlion Pickett's AFL dream came to life after he was selected by Richmond in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. As we acknowledge the start of Reconciliation Week, be inspired by the now premiership player's story.

🎥 Watch: https://www.afl.com.au/video/439720

[one-eyed]

WA’s premiership hero Marlion Pickett granted AFL assistance to work part-time at Richmond

The West Australian
Friday, 29 May 2020 8:25PM

There's good news for WA's grand final hero Marlion Pickett with the AFL approving his application to work part-time to supplement his restricted income.

https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/was-premiership-hero-marlion-pickett-granted-afl-assistance-to-work-part-time-at-richmond-ng-b881562973z

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Marlion Pickett

Kane Cornes
SEN
19 June 2020

“Is Marlion Pickett a one-hit wonder?

“Disposal count since the Grand Final: 14 Round 1 against Carlton, seven last Thursday night in about 39 minutes of game time - can’t even get on the field - and 10 last night and no influence.

“He does look to be struggling to pick up the pace of the game. That is a concern.

“A lot of people thought Richmond’s improvement will come from the likes of Marlion Pickett who is going to improve. Well, he’s really struggling.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/06/19/the-five-concerns-for-richmond/

[Rampsation]

At this stage he doesnt look like being anywhere near the level. Deserves to be dropped.

[Diocletian]

Tries to look pretty when percentage football is required....also looks unfit to me...

[one-eyed]

Marlion Pickett to mentor troubled kids in Victorian youth justice

Having used football to turn his own life around after leaving prison in 2013, Richmond footballer Marlion Pickett said sport had the power to communicate.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news./victoria/sports-stars-to-mentor-troubled-kids-in-victorian-youth-justice-centres/news-story/559269f1fb12f5a7d479b7ec7a37f284

[one-eyed]

Is Marlion Pickett a one-hit wonder?

Catherine Healey
The West Australian
21 June 2020

AFL commentator Kane Cornes fears Richmond’s grand final hero Marlion Pickett is a “one-hit wonder” as he continues to struggle in 2020.

Pickett stunned the AFL world with his near best-on ground performance on debut in the 2019 AFL Grand Final after the Tigers snapped him up months earlier in the Mid Season Draft.

He picked up 22 disposals and kicked a memorable goal in the final – but has failed to match those figures in his three games for 2020.

As Richmond continue to struggle post coronavirus shutdown, Cornes singled out the WA rookie.

“Is Marlion Pickett a one hit wonder?” he said on SEN.

“Disposal count since the Grand Final: 14 round one against Carlton, seven last Thursday night in about 39 minutes of game time — can’t even get on the field, and 10 last night (against Hawthorn) — no influence.

“He does look to be struggling to pick up the pace of the game.

“That is a concern and is concern number one.”

Pickett, who was plucked from South Fremantle in the WAFL in the middle of 2019, has 21 disposals from three games at Richmond in 2020.

Cornes said the 28-year-old had been earmarked as a future talent for the Tigers, despite his mature age, but has failed to live up to the hype so far.

“A lot of people thought ‘well Richmond’s improvement will come from the likes of Marlion Pickett who will improve’, but he’s really struggling,” he said.

https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/kane-cornes-questions-if-richmonds-wafl-recruit-marlion-pickett-is-a-one-hit-wonder-after-incredible-grand-final-debut-ng-b881584287z

[one-eyed]

ABC24 is right now replaying the Australian Story episode on Pickett.

[Rampsation]

Yep i think he will go down in history as the luckiest premiership player of all time. He looks like a reserves grade player.

[one-eyed]

Barrett's say on Pickett in his latest Sliding Doors column:


IF ... the fantasy was Grand Final day last year ...

THEN ... the reality was Thursday night team selection this week. Out: Pickett. He's overcome far more adversity in his life than senior team omission, but this year has been a football reality check on so many levels.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/456994/sliding-doors-if-the-fantasy-was-grand-final-day-last-year-then