Marlion Pickett is famous for his first game coming in a winning Grand Final, but he was dropped less than half a dozen games later, much to the chagrin of his many fantasy owners. He returns to the Tiger side this week as the club faces a long period of hub life with a significant loss of personnel, through injury and family commitments. Have the players lost the hunger, or will their class shine through in a game against a lesser team like Sydney is these days? Fantasy coaches will watch Pickett's form with interest.
Marlion Pickett is famous for his first game coming in a winning Grand Final, but he was dropped less than half a dozen games later, much to the chagrin of his many fantasy owners. He returns to the Tiger side this week as the club faces a long period of hub life with a significant loss of personnel, through injury and family commitments. Have the players lost the hunger, or will their class shine through in a game against a lesser team like Sydney is these days? Fantasy coaches will watch Pickett's form with interest.
Marlion like a tiger
The fairytale story of Marlion Pickett's rise in six months from WAFL to mid-season rookie pick to VFL flag then AFL flag in his debut senior game hardly needs to be retold here. But what sort of player is he from week to week, statistically? He is not a great accumulator, rarely venturing above 25 disposals and more often than not failing to reach 20. He also does not spread for marks well, though he can make that up with tackles and goals. In other words: like the Tigers of old, he's strong and he's bold. Pickett's history is hard to get a line on, especially since it was played in a variety of positions and was interrupted by injury at crucial points. If he gets fit for a 22-game slate, does he still have upside? Very much so, yes. His ceiling is probably similar to that of Dustin Martin, in that he is not going to reach the top echelons but can turn a game on its head. Comparisons are made with his old WAFL teammate Tim Kelly, and he has that potential. Someone will reach for him hoping for a repeat.
