Latest news with #SouthFremantle
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Premiership-winning footy star makes bombshell move after being accused of serious crimes related to four burglaries that saw crooks steal more than $350,000
Dual premiership player Marlion Pickett has pleaded guilty to two charges relating to a series of serious burglaries which took place over two years ago. The former Richmond star, 33, who had enjoyed a storied rise to the top of the AFL, had originally been charged with 12 offences in relation to four burglaries that took place between December 3, 2022, and January 3, 2023. He was accused of helping to steal over $350,000 from businesses around Western Australia. Some of those accusations included aggravated burglary, stealing and criminal damage. However, the majority of those charges were dropped after prosecutors held negotiations with the former Richmond star's lawyers. Both parties reasoned there was 'no public interest' in pursuing them. Instead, during an appearance in the District Court in Perth on Thursday, Pickett pleaded guilty to one charge of dealing with money that was the proceeds of crime and a second charge of possessing money that was the proceeds of crime between December 4 and December 10, 2022. He was arrested in 2022 in connection with the thefts, which took place in Perth, Beverley and Bindoon and Girrawheen between 2022 and 2023. The largest theft took place in Girrawheen, where $325,000 was allegedly stolen from a currency exchange. The 33-year-old, who was snapped up by the Tigers as a No 13 pick in the 2019 mid-season rookie draft following six years at South Fremantle, was accused of hiring a campervan to move the stolen funds across Australia. He was also accused of buying tools and clothes for the heists. The footy star was allegedly renumerated with $15,000 of the stolen cash. After joining the Tigers, Pickett, who hails from South Fremantle, famously went on to become the first player to debut in a premiership Grand Final in 67 years in 2019. The half-back also helped guide Richmond to the 2020 title, in what was just his 20th game at the club. Pickett would go on to return 27 goals across 91 appearances for the footy club, before hanging up his boots in 2024.
ABC News
4 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Former AFL player Marlion Pickett pleads guilty to two offences as burglary charges dropped
Dual Richmond premiership player Marlion Pickett, who had a fairytale rise to the top in AFL, has pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and dealing with stolen money — but multiple other charges against him have been dropped. Pickett had been facing a dozen criminal charges, including aggravated burglary, stealing and criminal damage. The charges related to alleged incidents in suburban Perth, Beverley and Bindoon in late 2022 and early 2023. Police had alleged he was involved in burglaries on commercial properties in which hundreds of thousands of dollars was stolen, but the vast majority of those charges have now been dropped. In the District Court in Perth today, Pickett pleaded guilty to two charges including dealing with money that was the proceeds of an offence and possessing money that was the proceeds of an offence. The prosecutor said there was no reasonable prospect of conviction on the other charges, which were discontinued. Pickett retired from AFL football last year. He had to wait until the age of 27 to get his chance in the AFL when — after almost seven years with South Fremantle — he was selected by Richmond with pick 13 in the 2019 mid-season rookie draft. He famously played in a premiership just a few months later in his first ever senior game, making his debut in the 2019 grand final, which the Tigers won by 89 points against GWS. He became a dual premiership player the following year when Richmond defeated Geelong at the Gabba. The 33-year-old will remain on bail ahead of a sentencing hearing in December.
West Australian
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
WAFL RAC Derby: South and East Fremantle partner with RAC to promote road safety on WA Day
A sombre message on the importance of road safety will accompany this year's inter-Fremantle WAFL clash, with traditional rivals South and East Fremantle joining forces with RAC. The Fremantle clubs' traditional WA Day clash at Fremantle Community Bank Oval will be known as the WAFL RAC Derby, with the automotive services giant coming on board to sponsor the event. It comes after the tragic passing of South Fremantle colts player Nick Campo in a car accident in July 2024, which also resulted in the hospitalisation of two of his Bulldogs teammates. The partnership between RAC and the two clubs will also deliver educational workshops on road safety to young players through mental health service Happiness Co. South Fremantle chief executive Cam Britt said they were proud to be partnering with RAC and delivering their message to not just their own players but everyone associated with the club was vital. 'Here at South, we're a club that's unfortunately experienced the devastating impact of road trauma so when RAC reached out, we were delighted to receive some support, which includes some driver education and road safety training for our youngest footballers in our colts and Rogers Cup,' he said. 'The RAC, in conjunction with Happiness Co. are meeting with our Rogers Cup players and our colts players, and providing driver education and self-awareness training, which we think is incredibly important, given what we've been through as a club and a community. 'The messaging and the awareness around road safety is absolutely paramount, and we're only too happy to help establish that program going forward.' There were 188 road fatalities in WA in 2024, marking the state's deadliest year since 2016. An RAC survey in November of 150 drivers aged from 17-21 found 77 per cent were confident they understood road rules — but 22 per cent believed it was safe to use a mobile phone without a hands-free connection, and 12 per cent thought it safe to drive when over the blood alcohol limit. Britt said education for all drivers was important, but especially for the younger demographic. 'We know the issues of road safety in our West Australian community, and as football clubs, we are just a subset of our community,' he said. 'So any ability that we have to provide reinforcement of education and road safety messaging with our youngest and most vulnerable groups, being our under-18 and early 20s cohorts, it's incredibly important, and we want to provide as much support as we can.' With both clubs hoping to match last year's turnout of 7500 fans to the derby, East Fremantle commercial manager and West Coast Eagles great Brad Sheppard said it was vital they spread the message far and wide. 'It's well-documented what's happened in the last 12 months and beyond that as well. Decisions have lasting impacts on not only individuals, but families and the community as well,' he said. 'South Fremantle have experienced some heartbreak last 12 months, and I know there are certain players and individuals from our club who have had trauma in this space over a number of years. 'To be able to raise awareness about the decision-making and the impact of what road safety has on the community is really important for the club. 'It's a lot bigger than footy, what we're going to be tackling on June 2. 'To be able to have RAC involved with what we're doing is really important for the community and for the state as well, because we want to try and reduce deaths on roads as much as we can.'
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
South Fremantle great Stephen Michael reflects on his WAFL career as he prepares to be 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree
Widely regarded as one of the best footballers to never play in the VFL, Stephen Michael knows he would've held his own. The dual Sandover Medallist, five-time South Fremantle best and fairest, and 1980 premiership player forged a legacy that few can match. But one of the great 'what ifs' is how Michael would've fared in the VFL after turning down overtures to head east. There were several offers made for the ruckman's services, but none as tempting as Geelong's. Michael trained with the Cats in the early 1980s before ultimately remaining with South Fremantle. Family was one factor, but after winning the Tassie Medal and being named captain of the All-Australian side in 1983, the first time that an Indigenous player had been honoured as skipper, Michael was satisfied he could compete with the best of the best. 'You can't compare what could've been,' the 17-time WA State of Origin representative said. 'Playing against them in state games, we had the best players in Australia playing for WA, and we proved that on the footy field. 'I'm very humbled that I played against the Victorian and South Australian teams. A lot of WA players did very well over there, but I just wanted to be myself.' Michael was unveiled as the 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round honouree back in February when the AFL was in Perth for the Indigenous All-Stars game against Fremantle. It's a fitting reward for a life lived in football. Tough, athletic, fast and fierce, Michael played 243 games and kicked 231 goals for South Fremantle. In 2005, he was named at centre half-forward in the Indigenous team of the century, and he's also reached Legend status in the WA Football Hall of Fame and was one of the early inductees into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. 'You start and you don't stop,' Michael said of his football career. 'It's been part of me my whole life. 'I just wanted to play sports every day from Monday to Friday. I didn't go into it thinking right, I need to be a superstar. I found that you always come up against someone better than you. 'I believe whatever is on my resume is a bonus. I got to win a grand final. I got to play with some champions like Maurice Rioli, Basil Campbell and Benny Vigona, and I also got to play against champions like Graham Moss, Brian Peake, Ross Glendinning, all of these guys. 'You don't plan it. It's just something that happened.' As honouree, Michael will follow in the footsteps of greats such as Polly Farmer, Bill Dempsey and Syd Jackson as the AFL celebrates his career across the next fortnight. 'It's an accolade that you don't set yourself or want to achieve,' he said. 'I'm grateful for the people who have recommended me. 'I'm very humbled to be among a great group of men. 'Polly Farmer changed the game, and so did Sir Doug. I don't say I changed the game. I was just part of the game.' Michael went on to establish the Stephen Michael Foundation, where he remains a patron. The Foundation works with at-risk and disadvantaged young people in Western Australian and encourages them to invest in their future regardless of their cultural background. As the AFL faces a decline in Indigenous players, the 69-year-old said he industry needed to recognise what drives players to play football. 'Maybe it's a business now when it once used to be for the love of the game,' he said. 'We as Indigenous players or as any players want to play for the enjoyment of it, not signing seven or eight-year contracts. 'I'd like to see the AFL take the game to the people, go back to grassroots and say, 'How can we improve the competition for our boys?''
