‘Deal of the century’: Tigers Grand Final hero avoids jail ‘by a knife edge’ after meth relapse
Richmond Grand Final hero Marlion Pickett has avoided jail “by a knife edge” after he admitted to helping friends launder almost $300,000 of stolen money during a relapse into drug use.
Pickett initially faced 12 offences in relation to a series of commercial burglaries, including involving safes at currency exchange businesses.
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But Judge Laurence Levy said the 33-year-old had negotiated “the deal of the century” with all charges dropped, allowing him to plead guilty to two new charges, dealing with money that was the proceeds of an offence and possessing money that was the proceeds of an offence.
Pickett was handed a two-year sentence suspended for 12 months.
After the initial charges he had been granted bail and allowed to continue his footy career before retiring after the 2024 season.
At Wednesday’s sentencing the court heard Pickett’s mental health had deteriorated following the 2022 season when he returned home to WA with wife Jessica and their four children.
“You were moving from house to house, staying with friends and family … your father was in poor health … it was affecting you very deeply,” Judge Levy said.
“You were suffering with depression and anxiety … thoughts flooded back to you about your time in incarceration in 2012.”
Marlion Pickett of the Tigers runs with the ball during the 2024 AFL Round 24 match between the Richmond Tigers and the Gold Coast SUNS at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 24, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
A family friend and a former partner of a relative reached out during this period and the court heard this was the catalyst for a relapse into meth use.
They then allegedly carried out the burglaries with Pickett “deciding to go along with assisting them with their enterprises”.
He was paid almost $22,000 after using his Victorian driver’s licence and credit card to hire a campervan which the group used to drive to Adelaide and then Melbourne, exchanging foreign currencies for almost $300,000 Australian dollars.
References from high-profile figures including former Richmond CEO Brendon Gale helped Pickett avoid jail, as the two charges he pleaded guilty to both carried a maximum penalty of 20 years.
The court heard Pickett gave away almost all of his yearly AFL salary, which was close to $300,000, due to “loyalty and cultural obligations”.
“You were on a knife edge as whether you went into jail,” Judge Levy said.
“I don’t need to tell you what jail is all about … (but) you demonstrated a commitment to rehabilitation.
“You are in that respect somebody that should be in a position to inspire others who might come from a similar background to you to achieve what you did.
“You still have a lot more to offer.”
Pickett famously made his AFL debut in the 2019 Grand Final, going on to play in two premierships at Punt Road, featuring 91 times across six seasons.
He said outside court he wanted to be “a person that people can look up to and do the best for them”.
