Richmond premiership star Marlion Pickett will be allowed to return to Melbourne today despite facing serious burglary charges in WA.
The father-of-four was on Monday granted bail in a Perth court where he spoke only to confirm his name.
Pickett, the 2019 AFL grand final fairytale story, had spent Sunday night behind bars following his arrest for an alleged involvement in the theft of more than $380,000 in Australian and foreign currencies from within safes.
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The 31-year-old had returned to Western Australia to play in his side’s win over Fremantle on Saturday night, but remained behind as teammates returned home to Victoria post-match.
He then spent most of Sunday being interviewed by police before being formally charged with serious burglary, stealing, criminal damage and receiving stolen goods offences allegedly stemming from incidents last December/early January.
It will be alleged Pickett was involved in four separate thefts – including one occasion where $325,000 was taken from a currency exchange in the Perth suburb of Girrawheen.
It is also alleged that Pickett hired a campervan used to move some of the stolen money and bought tools and clothes that police say was worn by his co-accused during the thefts.
Pickett is yet to enter a plea to the charges, though his manager Anthony Van Der Wielen said in a statement that the Tigers star “has a strong intent to defend himself against the charges”.
Despite police prosecution opposing bail for Pickett in a Perth court on Monday, his release was granted – under conditions including a $50,000 surety, having no contact with the alleged co-accused and reporting to his local police station in Melbourne weekly.
Richmond has pledged to support the 31-year-old in a statement issued on Sunday night.
“The club will continue to support Marlion and his family while these matters are dealt with,” she said.
“As this matter is now before the courts, the club will not be making any further comment.”
Pickett famously entered footy folklore when he made his AFL debut in the 2019 grand final – only weeks after arriving at the club in the Mid-Season Draft.
The matter will return to court again in August, but Pickett does not need to appear in person on that occasion.
