‘He cried when I kicked the last goal’: Tigers hero Pickett on what his match-winner meant to his sonMarc McGowan
The Age
June 5, 2023KEY POINTS* Marlion Pickett had a hand in both of Richmond’s last two goals as they defeated the Giants.
* Pickett’s match-winner came inside the final 30 seconds of a match featuring 31 goals.
* He made his AFL debut against GWS in the 2019 grand final, where he gathered 22 disposals.
Marlion Pickett’s son, Latrell, was in tears twice in the closing stages of Richmond’s last-gasp victory over the GWS Giants in Sydney on Sunday.
The first time was when he thought the Tigers were going to have to settle for their second draw of the season, after his dad set up a Dion Prestia goal with barely two-and-a-half minutes left in the game.
Another two minutes passed after that without either team scoring, and Latrell was resigned to the Tigers sharing the points.
But Latrell shed far happier tears seconds later when Pickett swooped on the Sherrin and coolly slotted the match-winner on his trusty left boot.
“I’m a proud dad and partner, and they were watching and sent the first message to me,” Pickett told The Age post-match. “My son was crying because he thought it was going to be a draw, [and] then he cried when I kicked the last goal. He’s a big Richmond head, and loves his footy.”
The quietly-spoken Pickett was far more reserved, himself, and even while discussing his match-winning moments afterwards.
He had only five disposals while playing as a pseudo key forward until his late involvements changed the course of the game – and possibly saved the Tigers’ season after consecutive narrow defeats in the previous fortnight.
“We still had 30 seconds left or whatnot [after my goal], so it was a numb, cold moment, which was a bit weird because usually when you kick a goal, you’re over the moon,” Pickett said.
“But [in that situation], you kind of just get ready for the next play. It was good to get a win, and we were all happy for ‘Mini’ [caretaker coach Andrew McQualter] because it was his first win as a coach, which was the pleasing part about it.
“We were missing a couple of soldiers but the fight and hunger is still there, and the group’s still chipping away, and if you don’t win those close games; they can take a toll when it comes to finals later in the year.”
McQualter hailed Pickett’s effort to transform his “not a great day” into a big moment that he “owned”. It was not the first time the 31-year-old had a memorable experience with the Giants. Pickett famously made his AFL debut in the 2019 grand final against the same opposition – gathering 22 disposals and kicking a goal – after being selected in the mid-season draft only months earlier as a 27-year-old.
That followed him turning his life around after twice spending time behind bars due to robbery, on top of dealing drugs and having his own drug habit. Through it all, his partner and mother of his children, Jess, stood by him.
“Without my partner and kids; I wouldn’t be here,” Pickett said. “All the credit goes to my partner for putting up with me, allowing me to fulfil my dreams, and backing me in 100 per cent. Without her keeping me grounded; it could have gone sideways.”
Pickett also remains eternally grateful to former coach Damien Hardwick, who enthusiastically watched Sunday’s match from a Denver pub after resigning a fortnight ago.
“‘Dimma’ is always going to be my coach, even though we have a new coach now,” he said.
“He gave me an opportunity no other club did, and I was a bit shattered when he left because I wanted him to stick around. But 14 years is a long time, and there is a toll on your family. I’m trying to juggle both, but I’m at the club every day.”
Pickett is out of contract at season’s end, but negotiations are on track to extend his time at Tigerland – not that he is focused on that.
“I don’t want to get sidetracked but whatever happens; I’m appreciative to get the opportunity to play AFL footy, which a lot of people don’t get the chance to,” he said.
“I think I’m moving well. At 31, people might think you’re slowing down, but the fitter I get, the better I get. I’ll play whatever role the team needs me to, whether that’s on the wing, inside mid, or even as a key forward.”
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/he-cried-when-i-kicked-the-last-goal-tigers-hero-pickett-on-what-his-match-winner-meant-to-his-son-20230604-p5ddtw.html
