When the Australian Football League (AFL) re-introduced the mid-season draft in 2019, it gave hope to a long list of players who missed out on the end of the year draft in the previous year.
The mid-season draft was re-introduced to allow clubs to top-up for players on the long term injury list. Even though over one hundred players may nominate for the draft, only a handful of players are selected.
In early 2019, Richmond Tigers player Shaun Grigg retired early due to a degenerative knee injury. This created an opening for Richmond to select Marlion Pickett from the South Fremantle Football Club with pick number one.
Marlion's skill set makes him good at winning contested possessions inside stoppage contests but with the speed and poise for ball carrying in uncontested contests, as well as a strong vertical leap. He joined the club with an injured hand and spent his first few weeks at the club in the injury rehabilitation group.
When Jack Graham injured his shoulder in the Preliminary Final of 2019, Marlion was selected to debut for Richmond in the Grand Final. He was only the second player to debut for Richmond in a Grand Final. After Richmond won the Grand Final, Marlion became a premiership player in his first game.
The mid-season draft was re-introduced to allow clubs to top-up for players on the long term injury list. Even though over one hundred players may nominate for the draft, only a handful of players are selected.
In early 2019, Richmond Tigers player Shaun Grigg retired early due to a degenerative knee injury. This created an opening for Richmond to select Marlion Pickett from the South Fremantle Football Club with pick number one.
Marlion's skill set makes him good at winning contested possessions inside stoppage contests but with the speed and poise for ball carrying in uncontested contests, as well as a strong vertical leap. He joined the club with an injured hand and spent his first few weeks at the club in the injury rehabilitation group.
When Jack Graham injured his shoulder in the Preliminary Final of 2019, Marlion was selected to debut for Richmond in the Grand Final. He was only the second player to debut for Richmond in a Grand Final. After Richmond won the Grand Final, Marlion became a premiership player in his first game.