Dual premiership Tiger Marlion Pickett’s court case over allegations of his involvement in a series of commercial burglaries is now due to take place just days before the start of the AFL season.
Pickett, 32, was set to face Perth Magistrates Court on Friday last week to face 12 charges, but the case was adjourned until March 1.
Pickett’s Tigers are one of eight teams scheduled to take part in Opening Round, with Richmond to face the Gold Coast Suns at Heritage Bank Stadium in its season-opener. The club also has pre-season hit-outs scheduled against Melbourne (February 18) and Collingwood (February 27) next month.
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It’s been alleged Pickett and Kurtley Thorne stole over $300,000 in a series of commercial burglaries, including stealing from safes at currency exchange businesses, across December 2022 and January 2023. The AFL player has also been accused of being part of a plan to transport the money across Australia in a campervan.
Pickett was arrested in June last year following Richmond’s game against Fremantle in Perth and spent a night in custody before being granted bail.
He has not yet entered a plea.
Anthony Van Der Wielen, Pickett’s manager, said last year that his client intended to defend himself against the charges.
“Due to the ongoing legal nature of the proceedings, Marlion, or myself will not be able to provide any further details, comment or clarification about the matter at this stage,” Van Der Wielen said in June.
“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.”
Thorne, the alleged co-offender of Pickett, in November last year pleaded guilty to a series of charges – including aggravated burglary, stealing and property damage – in a Perth court.
Pickett had played 78 games for Richmond since being selected by the club in the 2019 mid-season rookie draft.
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