Pickett up for grand challenge

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers are not expecting September bolter Marlion Pickett to be the matchwinner in today’s premiership decider.

The Tigers made the massive call to select Pickett for his first AFL game in the grand final as they target their second flag in three seasons.

The mature-age mid-season recruit becomes the first player since 1952 to make his debut in a VFL/AFL grand final and said yesterday he was willing to do the hard stuff required to help his team tackle the hard-edged Giants.

Hardwick was confident 27year-old Pickett would not be overawed by the occasion, but did not expect him to be the difference for the Tigers.

“He is just unfazed. Every challenge he has played at this year he has sort of raised the bar,” Hardwick said.

“Don’t get me wrong, Marlion is an important player, but he is not going to be the difference in the game. We have got some really good players that we expect to play a great brand of footy against a formidable opponent in GWS.

“We just expect him to play his role, we don’t expect him to be a matchwinner, but we look forward to him bringing his strengths in the big game.”

The door opened for Pickett to make his debut when Jack Graham was ruled out during the week after suffering a dislocated shoulder in last week’s preliminary final against Geelong. But while Pickett was elated with his elevation — which saw his parents Thomas and Angela fly across the country from Perth yesterday to see him play — he was sparing a thought for Jack Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh, who were overlooked.

“It’s mixed emotions … I still can’t believe it,” Pickett said. “I was really happy [but] felt for Jack Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh. I didn’t really know what to think yesterday.”

He has been shocked by the number of wellwishers who have contacted him, including his South Fremantle coach Todd Curley and former Tiger and Magpie Andrew Krakouer, who also went to jail before resurrecting his footy career.

“My story is a good story, but it is life, I guess,” said Pickett, who spent 2½ years in jail as a teenager for minor burglary offences.

“[Krakouer’s] is a good story … I am just looking to change for the better for my kids.”

Pickett’s four children — Marlion Jr (9), Latrelle (7), Shaniqua (4) and Levi (2) — carpooled with him and three other teammates at the grand final parade yesterday.

Hardwick said Pickett had earned his chance to show what he could do.

“We thought if it was Round 16 we would be picking the kid to play so we backed in our gut,” Hardwick said.