‘Sad to see them leave’: Tigers’ ‘transition’ continues as dual flag hero retires
As few as eight members of Richmond’s 2020 premiership side could remain on the list next season after dual flag wingman Marlion Pickett announced his retirement.
Pickett, 32, will play his 91st and final AFL game against Gold Coast at the MCG on Saturday in a match that will send off superstar Dustin Martin and could also be the last in yellow and black for Shai Bolton, Liam Baker, Jack Graham and Daniel Rioli.
Tigers coach Adem Yze confirmed the mid-season draft recruit who debuted in the 2019 grand final triumph would get a farewell game after repeat soft tissue injuries prevented him returning since round 12.
Pickett will face trial in Western Australia in October for 12 charges, including aggravated burglary.
He entered a plea of not guilty earlier this month and was granted special bail conditions to return to Victoria to continue playing this season.
Pickett’s retirement comes after former captain and triple premiership defender Dylan Grimes also announced he would not play on next season.
Yze said it had been an “emotional week” as change continued to sweep through Punt Road.
“Our players can’t wait to get out there and train … and almost let that emotion out – we can’t wait to get out there on Saturday to not only farewell two of our best players ever (Martin and Grimes) but really play for a couple of the other boys who are finishing up as well,” he said.
“(Pickett’s) story is an amazing story from where he started, to get 90 games out, two premierships, and it’s going to be an amazing book if he ever wants to write a book.
“We’re going to play him – he deserves that. He played VFL on the weekend, he had a tough week last week with his father’s funeral. He’s come back, and that’s just the type of person he is, he wanted to play.”
From the side that triumphed over Geelong in the 2020 decider at the Gabba, only eight are contracted for next season: Noah Balta, Nick Vlastuin, Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis, Jayden Short, Nathan Broad, Bolton and Rioli.
The latter two have been strongly linked to trades away from Punt Road at season’s end, while out-of-contract premiership players Baker and Graham are also expected to depart.
Dion Prestia and Kamdyn McIntosh are yet to sign new deals but are expected to play on.
“I think there’s only about nine players (from that team) who are playing right now anyway,” Yze said.
“So that’s a transition we’re in, and that’s just the life of AFL footy. And it is sad to see them leave, they’ll finish up, but we’ve got to get some young players to get an opportunity while we’ve been going through this anyway.”
Yze said he did not expect to learn the intentions of Bolton, Rioli, Baker and Graham until after the Suns game as he hoped Martin would visit the club on Friday ahead of his final send-off.
He said the triple Norm Smith medallist had not yet returned to the club since he addressed teammates earlier this month.