A former Australian Rules football star has narrowly avoided an immediate return to prison after a Perth judge described his plea deal as the "deal of the century".
A Suspended Sentence for Money Laundering
Marlion Pickett, the 33-year-old dual premiership winner with Richmond, was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, in Perth District Court. The retired footballer had pleaded guilty in May to one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime and a second charge of possessing money that was the proceeds of crime.
The court heard that Pickett's involvement stemmed from him hiring a campervan, knowing it would be used by a group travelling around Australia to exchange stolen currency worth approximately $300,000. For his role, Pickett received around $21,000.
Previous Charges Dropped After Mental Health Considered
These charges followed the dropping of 12 initial counts relating to a series of burglaries in Perth, Beverley, and Bindoon between December 2022 and January 2023. Those alleged offences had included aggravated burglary, stealing, and criminal damage.
In sentencing, Judge Laurence Levy took into account that the offending occurred during a significant deterioration in Pickett's mental health. The judge noted Pickett had returned to Western Australia at the end of the 2022 season, was moving between homes, and was deeply affected by his father's poor health, suffering from depression and anxiety.
"Thoughts flooded back to you about your time in incarceration in 2012," Judge Levy explained. Pickett had served a two-and-a-half year prison sentence as a teenager for multiple burglary convictions.
A Warning and a Remarkable Football Journey
Judge Levy made it clear that Pickett had been on a "knife's edge" regarding an immediate jail term. He issued a stern warning, stating that if Pickett reoffends, he would "almost inevitably" be sent to prison. "I don't need to tell you what jail is all about," the judge added.
Pickett's path to the AFL was extraordinary. After his release from jail in 2013, he played for WAFL side South Fremantle before being signed by Richmond in the 2019 mid-season rookie draft. He famously made his AFL debut in the 2019 Grand Final, helping Richmond to victory, and won a second premiership in just his 20th game. He retired in 2024 after 91 games for the Tigers.
