Richmond recruit Marlion Pickett is as stunned as everyone else that he will make his AFL debut in Saturday’s grand final.
The 27-year-old father of four will become the first player in 67 years to achieve the feat, with the Tigers bringing him to replace injured utility Jack Graham.
Pickett only joined Richmond in late May through the mid-season draft and he had just undergone surgery for a badly-broken finger.
He finally made his VFL debut early last month and staked his claim for a senior berth with a best-afield performance in Sunday’s grand final win over Williamstown.
Coach Damien Hardwick broke the news early on Thursday afternoon and the Tigers decided he would front a media conference, hoping to ease some of the pressure on Pickett.
“The emotions are a bit of everything. When I was told I didn’t believe it – I probably still can’t believe it,” Pickett said.
“I’m just looking forward for the weekend.
“I’m still pinching myself – I didn’t think my debut would come around this early, but it has, and I will just take it with both hands.
“Wherever I do play, I will give it my all and leave everything out there.”
Pickett added Hardwick’s message was simple.
“He said ‘be yourself, we don’t expect anything more than you do when you play footy, and just enjoy it,” Pickett said.
Despite the enormity of what is happening, Pickett was taking it all in his stride.
“I’m a relaxed guy,” he said.
“That’s the coaches’ call, I’m just doing my thing.
“I was getting ready for a good pre-season, but then I got the call up.
“I’m still relaxed. A bit nervous, but it’s alright.”
Even before his last few weeks, Pickett’s story has been remarkable.
He spent time in jail as a teenager in Perth and then turned his life around.
“It’s a big achievement, not just for me but my family as well,” Pickett said.
“My family has been on the journey with me, through tough and thin, and this means a lot.”
His cousin is North Melbourne and Port Adelaide star Byron Pickett, who won the 2004 Norm Smith Medal.
Pickett and his partner Jessica have children aged two to 10 – Marlion, Latrell, Shaniquae and Levi.
Jessica was the first person he rang with the big news.
“She was more cheery than I was, I was still trying to get my head around it,” he said.
“She’s over the moon.”
His parents Thomas and Angela will fly across for the grand final.
“My Dad’s scared of hopping on planes, but he’s facing his fears and I guess I’m facing mine,” he said.
When he first arrived in Melbourne, Pickett stayed with Tigers star Dustin Martin.
“I refer to them as brothers (more) than teammates – like a whole family,” Pickett said of his Tiger teammates.
“He (Martin) is a good fella. I take my hat off to him, to invite me into his house when he didn’t really know me.”