Footy star Marlion Pickett faces court on 12 charges over alleged burglary rampage that netted more than $300,000
- Tigers premiership winner charged with criminal activity
- Safes were looted in a series of burglaries
- Pickett was accused of planning to transport money across the country
Dual AFL premiership player Marlion Pickett is expected to enter a guilty plea to several charges including aggravated burglary next year after his final court appearance was postponed.
Pickett’s arrest in June shocked the football community with police saying he was involved in a series of commercial burglaries over the Christmas period last year.
They are believed to have stolen more than US$300,000 and ransacked safes at currency exchange offices.
Mr. Pickett is also accused of being part of a plan to transport money across the country in a campervan.
Marlion Pickett appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on charges including theft and receiving
The 31-year-old Richmond star faces 12 charges including criminal damage or destruction of property, theft and receiving.
His manager previously said Pickett would fight the charges.
The case was listed for trial in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday but was adjourned by consent until January 19.
His co-accused Curtley Thorne, 30, recently pleaded guilty to a number of charges in Perth Magistrates Court.
The Richmond Premier League player has been accused of involvement in a string of burglaries following his arrest in June.
Mr Pickett has previously spoken about his past brushes with the law and the time he spent in prison in Washington state, saying it was a wake-up call.
He was released from prison at the age of 21 in 2013 and then began playing for the South Fremantle Football Club.
Mr Pickett made his AFL debut in a premiership win over Richmond in 2019, just months after being selected by the Tigers in the mid-season draft.
This made Pickett the first VFL/AFL player in 67 years to make his grand final debut, and the first since 1926 to win a flag.
He won his second premiership with the Tigers in 2020.
The father-of-four (pictured with partner Jess) will appear in court again on January 19.
Mr Pickett was forced to apply due to financial difficulties after taking a pay cut during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The father of four was paid a second-year rookie player’s salary, which is about $85,000.
But when the AFL shut down during the pandemic, leading to player pay cuts, Pickett lived on about $3000 a month.
Fans rallied to help, donating to a GoFundMe page to raise money for the young family.