Richmond player Marlion Pickett, who famously made his AFL debut in the Tigers’ 2019 premiership triumph, is in custody in Perth, charged over a series of burglaries.
Police remanded Pickett on Sunday – a day after he played in the Tigers’ 15-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium – alleging he was involved in a number of commercial burglaries that happened between December and January.
Pickett was charged with four counts of aggravated burglary, three counts of stealing and three counts of criminal damage.
The 31-year-old was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday for a bail hearing.
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Richmond released a statement on Sunday night, confirming its player had been charged.
“The club will continue to support Marlion and his family while these matters are dealt with,” the club statement said.
“As this matter is now before the courts, the club will not be making any further comment.”
Pickett’s manager Anthony Van Der Wielen said Pickett was entitled to the presumption of innocence.
“We understand and respect the public’s interest in this matter but we also implore all to respect the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, and to allow the legal proceedings to follow their due course without prejudice,” Van Der Wielen said in a statement.
Pickett has played 70 games for the Tigers and is out of contract at the end of the 2023 campaign.
In 2019 he became the first VFL/AFL player in 67 years to debut in a grand final and the first since 1926 to win a flag as Richmond belted GWS by 89 points.
He won a second premiership with the Tigers in 2020.
-AAP
