- May 1, 2018
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Marlion Pickett to receive Richmond life membership after flag success as Tigers eye profit
The Tigers will welcome six new additions to an exclusive group after their second premiership in three years – but it’s the club’s off-field financial success that is causing as much excitement.
Jon Ralph, Herald Sun
Marlion Pickett’s life-changing premiership heroics will be capped with life membership at Richmond’s annual general meeting on Monday December 9.
And with Pickett already back training at Punt Road and settling into Melbourne life, his friends are wondering what he is capable of achieving in his first full season of AFL.
Pickett’s single AFL game saw him become a premiership player who ran third in Norm Smith Medal voting, with the flag automatically making him eligible for Tigers life membership.
Marlion Pickett in action during his only AFL match – this year’s Grand Final win. Picture. Phil Hillyard
He will join Tom Lynch, Liam Baker, Shai Bolton, Jayden Short and Ivan Soldo as first-time Tiger premiership players who didn’t play in the 2017 premiership.
Mid-season recruit Pickett’s fortune came in comparison to St Kilda legend Trevor Barker, who played 230 AFL games without a single final.
The Tigers will again declare a phenomenal profit off the back of bumper revenue, the league’s highest home attendances (59,987) and merchandise sales from the premiership.
Last year’s net profit was $4.21 million after a $3.06 million profit in the 2017 season, with the Tigers last year stating their cash reserves of $13.7 million.
Richmond’s $60 million redevelopment of Punt Road will be helped by that financial haul, with the Tigers still seeking extra government funding for the upgrade.
The development will house the club’s indigenous academy – the Korin Gamadji Institute – as well as Bachar Houli’s Academy for Muslim youth.
Players swamp Pickett after he booted a third-term goal. Picture: David Caird
Pickett and his wife Jess have settled into Thornbury with their four children after he signed a one-year deal with the Tigers late in the season.
Older children Marlion Jr and Latrelle have settled into school and Jess has signed up to play AFLW with the local Fitzroy team after playing with South Fremantle.
But despite his Grand Final brilliance, he is a remarkable unflappable character who is looking forward to establishing a long-term career at the Tigers.
Pickett’s ability to elevate his game on the big stage stunned the football world.
But his manager Anthony van der Wielen told the Herald Sun it was exactly the kind of performance he had churned out over the years in the WAFL.
“He is a very simple man. Marlion and his family are just enjoying time in Melbourne,” he said.
“I know he has been doing a fair bit of training and maintenance stuff. He hasn’t done a full pre-season before so if he can get fitter he can play more game time. It’s about getting through a season injury free and fitter and stronger.
“He has a couple of little endorsement deals and a few things have popped up but he is just mainly settling his family down. They only got here a few weeks before the Grand Final.”
The Tigers will welcome six new additions to an exclusive group after their second premiership in three years – but it’s the club’s off-field financial success that is causing as much excitement.
Jon Ralph, Herald Sun
Marlion Pickett’s life-changing premiership heroics will be capped with life membership at Richmond’s annual general meeting on Monday December 9.
And with Pickett already back training at Punt Road and settling into Melbourne life, his friends are wondering what he is capable of achieving in his first full season of AFL.
Pickett’s single AFL game saw him become a premiership player who ran third in Norm Smith Medal voting, with the flag automatically making him eligible for Tigers life membership.
Marlion Pickett in action during his only AFL match – this year’s Grand Final win. Picture. Phil Hillyard
He will join Tom Lynch, Liam Baker, Shai Bolton, Jayden Short and Ivan Soldo as first-time Tiger premiership players who didn’t play in the 2017 premiership.
Mid-season recruit Pickett’s fortune came in comparison to St Kilda legend Trevor Barker, who played 230 AFL games without a single final.
The Tigers will again declare a phenomenal profit off the back of bumper revenue, the league’s highest home attendances (59,987) and merchandise sales from the premiership.
Last year’s net profit was $4.21 million after a $3.06 million profit in the 2017 season, with the Tigers last year stating their cash reserves of $13.7 million.
Richmond’s $60 million redevelopment of Punt Road will be helped by that financial haul, with the Tigers still seeking extra government funding for the upgrade.
The development will house the club’s indigenous academy – the Korin Gamadji Institute – as well as Bachar Houli’s Academy for Muslim youth.
Pickett and his wife Jess have settled into Thornbury with their four children after he signed a one-year deal with the Tigers late in the season.
Older children Marlion Jr and Latrelle have settled into school and Jess has signed up to play AFLW with the local Fitzroy team after playing with South Fremantle.
But despite his Grand Final brilliance, he is a remarkable unflappable character who is looking forward to establishing a long-term career at the Tigers.
Pickett’s ability to elevate his game on the big stage stunned the football world.
But his manager Anthony van der Wielen told the Herald Sun it was exactly the kind of performance he had churned out over the years in the WAFL.
“He is a very simple man. Marlion and his family are just enjoying time in Melbourne,” he said.
“I know he has been doing a fair bit of training and maintenance stuff. He hasn’t done a full pre-season before so if he can get fitter he can play more game time. It’s about getting through a season injury free and fitter and stronger.
“He has a couple of little endorsement deals and a few things have popped up but he is just mainly settling his family down. They only got here a few weeks before the Grand Final.”
