Bulldog veterans back Pickett to go to next level

MARLON Pickett made a remarkable WAFL debut with South Fremantle last Saturday in the win over East Perth and the Bulldogs' two oldest current players have no doubt he deserves a chance at the next level even if having played just one league game.

The 21-year-old had played the last seven matches in the reserves at South Fremantle to earn his league debut last Saturday at Fremantle Oval against East Perth, and what an immediate impact he made.

Pickett's sheer numbers in the 22.13 (145) to 21.7 (133) win were incredible with him finishing with 26 possessions, nine marks, four clearances, eight inside-50 entries and three goals.

However, there was more to his performance than just the numbers. Pickett showed he has tremendous pace and evasive ability but he also can play tall and mark strongly above his head meaning that he can virtually play any position on the ground.

With good size, all the physical attributes most can only dream of and clearly a temperament that allows him to stand tall on the big occasion, Pickett has a bright future even though his WAFL league career is just one game old.

Kris Miller has now played 297 WAFL matches since making his debut in 1999 so he has seen players of all shapes, sizes and abilities come in and make their debuts with differing levels of success over the last 14 years.

The 32-year-old, who kicked five goals himself in the win, can't recall ever seeing a better debut than the one Pickett made and he would be encouraging any AFL club to pick him up and put him on their list later this year in the National Draft.

"I would pretty strongly be suggesting that he could be one of the rare blokes who could get drafted on the back of just one game. People might have been looking at him before anyway, but those physical attributes he has don’t just drop out of trees," Miller said.

"He has done the work, he is a really good guy, he has never missed a training session and he is a quiet fella but I can't see any reason why an AFL club wouldn’t give him a chance. He is still a very raw talent who with a little bit of polish, could be very good at the next level."

When Miller first laid eyes on Pickett with his size but athleticism, he instantly thought that he resembled another South Fremantle veteran, Paul Mugambwa.

However, Mugambwa didn’t grow up playing the game having been born in South Africa and his football skills have been something that he has continued to work on during his career to go along with his incredible physical and athletic traits.

So Miller instantly thought that Pickett had all those physical attributes of Mugambwa to jump high and run fast, but also has those natural football skills as well.

"I can't think of a better debut that I have seen anyway, and certainly not one that was as exciting. His physical attributes are just fantastic with the way that he is a 6'2 player who could play in the ruck for us but also as a small forward," Miller said.

"Honestly the first thing I thought of when I saw Marlon was that he was like Paul Mugambwa but with really good skills. The best way I can describe him to people is that he is a young version of Gumby who grew up playing football.

"If Gumby was as skilled as Marlon, then Gumby would have been an all-time great. It's no disrespect to Gumby, but seeing Marlon is like seeing him although with good skills. Gumby has all those skills as well because he is quick, has a great leap, is mobile, has a great desire to compete and is versatile, and Marlon is the same. They both fly for everything."

Mugambwa also was a strong contributor in last Saturday's win over East Perth with three goals from 14 possessions and six marks, including yet another massive screamer to add to his highlight reel.

However, the 32-year-old 127-game veteran found himself in awe of what Pickett was doing out on Fremantle Oval as the game unfolded.

"I was one of the ones clapping out there half the time seeing what he was doing. Usually guys are nervous when they make their debut and it takes a while for them to get used to the pace, but I just told him to back himself and he took it in his stride," Mugambwa said.

"He was shimming guys, taking guys on, kicking goals, taking marks and he gave us a lot of the speed and drive that we've been looking for consistently over the course of the year.

"It's just exciting to see him out there and his family come here to watch him. He's got a great story and I'm really proud to see him out there and take his opportunity."

Mugambwa also has no doubt that with AFL clubs now more willing to draft players in their 20s that Pickett deserves to be given a chance to see what he can do at the top level.

The scary thought is that he has the chance to get even better if put into a full-time football environment in the AFL.

"It has changed so much now where AFL clubs are recruiting players a lot older and there isn’t really a roof on it," Mugambwa said.

"I might not get drafted at 34, but at the same time a lot of clubs are realising that they might have missed guys when they were 16, 17 or 18 but now they are doing really well and are worth looking at if they are in their 20s.

"It was only one game for Marlon and he might have harder games when he gets more attention from the opposition, but he has the potential to play AFL definitely."

By Chris Pike