Is plug-and-play Pickett the draft's next Tim Kelly? AFL.com.au
Travis King
Nov 23, 2018 RECRUITERS have been urged not to overlook ready-to-play South Fremantle gun Marlion Pickett when the NAB AFL Draft resumes on Friday.
The 26-year-old hails from the same WAFL club as Geelong revelation Tim Kelly and, like his ex-teammate, Pickett is ready to impact at the elite level straight away.
Twelve months after Liam Ryan, Bailey Banfield and Kelly made it to AFL ranks, hard-nosed midfielder Pickett is the WAFL's most talked about prospect, with Gold Coast and St Kilda among the clubs interested.
"He's obviously got some attributes – super-quick, really strong for his size, hard at the ball, can play virtually anywhere," South Freo coach Todd Curley told AFL.com.au.
"He's probably had to earn an opportunity with consistent footy and he's improved along the way, but he's a different player to Tim.
"Tim is an out-and-out inside midfielder, whereas Marlion has probably got more versatility. He can play back, forward and midfield.
"Tim has the ability, which we probably saw this year, to accumulate consistently big numbers.
"Marlion can have a big impact on a game with probably not as many possessions just through the way he attacks the ball.
"He's a little bit older and a bit more mature and I think he'd be one you could pick and he'd be available for round one."
Pickett has turned his life around since he was jailed in his teens and was outstanding in his fifth season at South Fremantle.
The 183cm and 85kg tough nut averaged 21.8 disposals after asking Curley for a switch from half-back to midfield to replace Kelly.
Pickett's headline performance came in a thumping qualifying final victory over West Perth, when he torched the Falcons with four goals and 26 disposals.
"He had some great games for us," Curley said.
"His ability to break the lines and run and carry is a real strength. He's really improved his kicking but his ability to get it, burst away, carry and then distribute the ball makes him a real 90m player.
"He's spoken to a fair few clubs and we're hopeful that he'll get an opportunity because I think he certainly deserves it and we'd think he'd go all right.
"He'll do some things that you'll enjoy watching."
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-11-23/dont-miss-plugandplay-pickett-wafl-coach-warns
