When new Blue Jarrod Pickett was initially recruited to the Giants with pick No. 4 in the 2014 national draft, he was touted as an “excitement machine”.
Boasting explosive speed and a high leap, experts were also comparing him to Hawthorn’s Cyril Rioli.
With those wraps its no surprise Pickett hails from a football family. He’s related to Port premiership player Bryon Pickett, Essendon and Sydney star Derek Kickett, former Collingwood star Leon Davis and St Kilda champion Nicky Winmar.
Although the 20-year-old from WA is yet to make his senior debut, Pickett made an instant impression in the NEAFL. In his first season the young midfielder notched up 17 games and booted 26 goals.
Unfortunately in April this year Pickett suffered a foot injury keeping him sidelined for six months, however with another pre-season under his belt and his rehab complete, he’ll be ready to hit the track next season.
He said it:
“I'm not sure where my pace came from. I didn't grow up doing athletics or anything, I just played footy and basketball, and some rugby. The first time I did a 20-metre sprint I got 3.14 seconds and I thought I was slow, then I got a bit skinnier, fitter and stronger and it's made it so much easier to make it around people. It's hard to describe what it's like. I didn't do much to get fast, it just came to me.”
– Pickett speaking to AFL Media ahead of the 2014 national draft.
They said it:
"His speed and confidence through traffic made him stand out, and he had a sidestep like a rugby player.”
– Arthur Maskos, South Fremantle’s under-18 coach who was watching the under-15s to see the talent coming through.
Jarrod Pickett’s bio:
Age: 20
Height: 178cm
Weight: 78kg
Recruited from: Jandakot (WA)/South Fremantle (WAFL)/GWS
Draft history: Selected at pick No. 4 by GWS in the 2014 national draft
Position: Small forward/midfielder
AFL debut: Yet to make senior debut
