RECRUITERS have been urged not to overlook ready-to-play South Fremantle gun Marlion Pickett when the NAB AFL Draft resumes on Friday.
The 26-year-old hails from the same WAFL club as Geelong revelation Tim Kelly and, like his ex-teammate, Pickett is ready to impact at the elite level straight away.
Twelve months after Liam Ryan, Bailey Banfield and Kelly made it to AFL ranks, hard-nosed midfielder Pickett is the WAFL's most talked about prospect, with Gold Coast and St Kilda among the clubs interested.
"He's obviously got some attributes – super-quick, really strong for his size, hard at the ball, can play virtually anywhere," South Freo coach Todd Curley told AFL.com.au.
DRAFT TRACKER Every pick, bios, highlights and Cal's comments
"He's probably had to earn an opportunity with consistent footy and he's improved along the way, but he's a different player to Tim.
"Tim is an out-and-out inside midfielder, whereas Marlion has probably got more versatility. He can play back, forward and midfield.
"Tim has the ability, which we probably saw this year, to accumulate consistently big numbers.
"Marlion can have a big impact on a game with probably not as many possessions just through the way he attacks the ball.
HOW DID THE GURU GO? Callum Twomey's late mail
"He's a little bit older and a bit more mature and I think he'd be one you could pick and he'd be available for round one."
Pickett has turned his life around since he was jailed in his teens and was outstanding in his fifth season at South Fremantle.
The 183cm and 85kg tough nut averaged 21.8 disposals after asking Curley for a switch from half-back to midfield to replace Kelly.
Pickett's headline performance came in a thumping qualifying final victory over West Perth, when he torched the Falcons with four goals and 26 disposals.
WALSH, LUKOSIUS OR RANKINE? Recruiters name their No.1
"He had some great games for us," Curley said.
"His ability to break the lines and run and carry is a real strength. He's really improved his kicking but his ability to get it, burst away, carry and then distribute the ball makes him a real 90m player.
"He's spoken to a fair few clubs and we're hopeful that he'll get an opportunity because I think he certainly deserves it and we'd think he'd go all right.
"He'll do some things that you'll enjoy watching."
Only one WA-based footballer – Claremont half-back Jordan Clark, who went to Geelong at pick 15 – was taken in the first round of the draft on Thursday night.
LIVE PICK TRADES Swans' sneaky move, Blues' bold play
The West Australian Football Commission hopes about 15 players end up receiving an opportunity by the end of the national and rookie drafts.
Claremont's dual Sandover medallist Jye Bolton, 26, and West Perth's strong-bodied mid Luke Meadows, 24, are other mature-age prospects in the mix as recruiters give greater consideration to players capable of stepping straight into AFL ranks.
Pickett's close friend and teammate, Matthew Parker, 22, is another strong candidate after getting his life on track in recent years.
The livewire forward booted 27 goals in 20 games this year and has also been linked to the Saints.
"I don't think they (Pickett and Parker) need the other one to be there (to settle in at AFL level). Would it help them? Probably, of course it would," Curley said.
"It's always hard to move away from home, so if you've got some friends and family around it will help them, but I don't think it would necessarily hurt them not to be at the same team.
"They're both old enough and mature enough in their own right to make their own way.
"We just hope they get an opportunity because we think they'd both grab it."
