Pickett speaks again.
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:15 amFrom the weekend Herald Sun:
MELBOURNE'S new wrecking ball Byron Pickett has vowed not to change his brutal style of play, despite the attention he received last year from the AFL tribunal.
Pickett was accused of being almost unemployable by his former coach Mark Williams last year, after he was suspended for a total of eight games after rough conduct incidents involving Adelaide's James Begley and Carlton's Simon Wiggins.
The Demon, 28, might have a 50 per cent tribunal loading on any further suspensions, but that will not make him take a backward step for his new club.
"I am not changing my game," he said. "I won't change it for anyone. I think if I change my game I probably wouldn't be the same player as I am today, so there's no point.
"I think if you asked Browny (Jonathan Brown) if he would change his game, he's not going to change it. Barry Hall is not going to change his game. It's just natural footy, you play your natural style of game, and that's how you become a good player. Play your own game."
Pickett is still furious he was the scapegoat for the AFL's tribunal changes last year, rubbed out for six matches for rough conduct in the first case of the season.
He was forced to watch from the sidelines as a swag of similar incidents were either ignored or lesser penalties handed out.
"I have always done it (hit players) within the rules," he said. "The first one against the Crows was a bit unlucky. I can't help it if (Begley) fumbled. And he saw me coming. It looked worse than it really was.
"After I did it, a couple of boys got off later (for the same type of incidents). That is another thing that was frustrating, but oh well.
"Maybe (the AFL) were waiting for me to do something and get me good. I have never been a fan of the tribunal. I never have. I don't think anyone has."
Pickett walked out of Port Adelaide after three years when the club offered him a performance-based contract, but he is determined to play on at Melbourne for up to five years.
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher said he expected to see Pickett's uncompromising style but also the attacking play that won him the Norm Smith Medal in 2004.
"He know he doesn't need to be that hit-man for us. If he just attacks the ball like he normally does, that is hard enough," Daniher said.
"I will be encouraging him to play with flair, and with the Aboriginal magic I know he has got, just showing the general football public what a good player he is and why he won a Norm Smith Medal."
Pickett said while he had enjoyed his time at Port Adelaide he was determined not to sell himself short to a Power outfit looking to jettison older players.
"I was just keen to get the same as what I was, or a little bit more, but they obviously offered me less than what I thought I was worth, so I went for the better offer, and hopefully it's the right one," he said.
"I have settled in well. All the boys are good and the coaches are good. All the boys have made it easy for me and having played against a couple of the older guys over the years, that also makes it easier. There are a couple of brothers here as well. I played with Shannon Motlop at the Kangaroos."
Interesting to see if Fuhrer Dimetriou and co. ask for a "please explain?".
MELBOURNE'S new wrecking ball Byron Pickett has vowed not to change his brutal style of play, despite the attention he received last year from the AFL tribunal.
Pickett was accused of being almost unemployable by his former coach Mark Williams last year, after he was suspended for a total of eight games after rough conduct incidents involving Adelaide's James Begley and Carlton's Simon Wiggins.
The Demon, 28, might have a 50 per cent tribunal loading on any further suspensions, but that will not make him take a backward step for his new club.
"I am not changing my game," he said. "I won't change it for anyone. I think if I change my game I probably wouldn't be the same player as I am today, so there's no point.
"I think if you asked Browny (Jonathan Brown) if he would change his game, he's not going to change it. Barry Hall is not going to change his game. It's just natural footy, you play your natural style of game, and that's how you become a good player. Play your own game."
Pickett is still furious he was the scapegoat for the AFL's tribunal changes last year, rubbed out for six matches for rough conduct in the first case of the season.
He was forced to watch from the sidelines as a swag of similar incidents were either ignored or lesser penalties handed out.
"I have always done it (hit players) within the rules," he said. "The first one against the Crows was a bit unlucky. I can't help it if (Begley) fumbled. And he saw me coming. It looked worse than it really was.
"After I did it, a couple of boys got off later (for the same type of incidents). That is another thing that was frustrating, but oh well.
"Maybe (the AFL) were waiting for me to do something and get me good. I have never been a fan of the tribunal. I never have. I don't think anyone has."
Pickett walked out of Port Adelaide after three years when the club offered him a performance-based contract, but he is determined to play on at Melbourne for up to five years.
Melbourne coach Neale Daniher said he expected to see Pickett's uncompromising style but also the attacking play that won him the Norm Smith Medal in 2004.
"He know he doesn't need to be that hit-man for us. If he just attacks the ball like he normally does, that is hard enough," Daniher said.
"I will be encouraging him to play with flair, and with the Aboriginal magic I know he has got, just showing the general football public what a good player he is and why he won a Norm Smith Medal."
Pickett said while he had enjoyed his time at Port Adelaide he was determined not to sell himself short to a Power outfit looking to jettison older players.
"I was just keen to get the same as what I was, or a little bit more, but they obviously offered me less than what I thought I was worth, so I went for the better offer, and hopefully it's the right one," he said.
"I have settled in well. All the boys are good and the coaches are good. All the boys have made it easy for me and having played against a couple of the older guys over the years, that also makes it easier. There are a couple of brothers here as well. I played with Shannon Motlop at the Kangaroos."
Interesting to see if Fuhrer Dimetriou and co. ask for a "please explain?".
