Byron Pickett
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| Image:Byron Pickett | |
| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | August 11, 1977, |
| Recruited from | Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) |
| Height/Weight | 178cm / 84kg |
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 15, July 11, 1997, North Melbourne vs. Geelong, at Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| Team(s) | North Melbourne (1997-2002)
120 games, 81 goals Port Adelaide (2003-2005) 55 games, 80 goals Melbourne (2006-) |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
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Byron Pickett (born August 11, 1977) is an indigenous Australian rules footballer known for his strength and tough approach to the game.
At only 178 cm and 86 kg, Pickett is not a large Australian Rules player, however he is solidly built and unquestionably tough. Most of his aggressive actions are within the rules of the game but categorised as rough play, however his toughness has come at a price, with constant suspensions from the game due to his hard-hitting shirtfronts.
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[edit] Kangaroos Football Club
Nicknamed "Choppy", Pickett burst onto the scene in 1997 with the Kangaroos Football Club (North Melbourne), playing only one game. However, in 1998 he had a fine year and was rewarded with the Norwich Rising Star award.
In 1999 he played in a premiership team with the Kangaroos, before switching to the club he originally played for in the SANFL, Port Adelaide, in 2002.
[edit] Port Adelaide Power
He was part of Port Adelaide's first ever AFL premiership in 2004, and won the Norm Smith Medal for best player on ground.
[edit] Controversy
In 1999, Pickett crashed into Hawthorn's Brendon Krummel while his head was down to get the ball. In the bump, Pickett broke Krummel's nose, he was concussed and had short-term amnesia. A free kick was awarded but no official charge from the AFL. Despite his injuries, Krummel publicly defended Pickett's actions. [1]
In 2005 he received 6 weeks for a clash which accidentally knocked out James Begley in a pre-season match with both players chasing for the ball. The incident sparked controversy and in response many football commentators, including premiership player Robert Walls called to ban the bump. Many cynics felt that Pickett had been singled out over the incident and his style of play unfairly made an example of, with the rules changing in response to the incident.
He received 2 weeks for a fair hip-and-shoulder as Carlton Football Club's Simon Wiggins, (this collision was not an accident, as Byron had this eye on Simon and not on the ball) completed a mark after slowing down and pulling up to reduce the collision. Later in the season, a fair bump on Adelaide Football Club's Rhett Biglands knocked the 104 kg ruckman out cold, seeing Biglands stretchered from the field [2]. Biglands recovered, returned and played later in that match.
Pickett also caused controversy with appearances in court for drink-driving offences.
[edit] Melbourne
At the end of 2005, Pickett was involved in a trade that saw him play at the Melbourne Football Club from 2006 onwards, and he has vowed not to alter his style of play. He wears No 33, previously worn by former aboriginal player Jeff Farmer who currently plays for Fremantle (Still No 33).
In a round 7, 2006 clash with Fremantle at the MCG, Pickett sent Ryan Crowley to hospital with two breaks to the cheekbone [3] in a shepherd.
Pickett suffered successive hamstring injuries in 2006 which sidelined him for several games.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Michael Wilson |
AFL Rising Star 1998 |
Succeeded by Adam Goodes |
| Preceded by Simon Black |
Norm Smith Medal 2004 |
Succeeded by Chris Judd |
