South West AFL Watch: Manjimup’s Marlion Pickett makes an impact in final round of AFL home and away season

As attention turns towards the AFL finals, only one player from the South West managed to feature in the final round of the regular season. Manjimup’s Marlion Pickett was the sole AFL player with ties to the South West to feature in the last round of the 2022 AFL home and away season but made a huge impact in Richmond’s 11-goal win over Essendon on Saturday. During the Tigers’ 21.15 (141) to 11.9 (75) win at the MCG, the 30-year-old put on an impressive showing to help secure another finals berth, booting a goal during the last quarter to put the exclamation mark on the win. Along with the goal, Pickett managed 12 disposals, six marks - five of which were uncontested - five tackles, four intercept possessions, eight score involvements, 15 pressure acts and a clearance. Despite not featuring in the final round of the regular season, Bunbury’s Connor Blakely, former HBL Lion Ethan Hughes and Busselton products Jye Amiss and James Tunstill still have a chance to make appearances during the finals, with both Fremantle and Brisbane joining Richmond in the top eight. For Harvey’s Brady Hough and Bunbury’s Isiah Winder, it is season over, with the West Coast Eagles finishing 17th on the AFL ladder after a disastrous 2022 campaign for the club.