DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
MILESTONE matches are always fraught with uncertainty; a club's favourite son deserves to mark it with a win, while it provides a proud opposition with further incentive to spoil the party.
And so it was at the weekend when the tireless Allistair Pickett's 200-career game celebration was crashed by West Perth.
Such is the nature of football.
It was entirely fitting that Pickett's 200th game coincided with the WAFL's NAIDOC Week round of matches with the league marking the round with each team wearing Indigenous-themed jumpers in club colours.
And that it also coincided against the club in which his WAFL career got its start.
The 37-year-old (pictured), who is 38 next month, is showing no signs of letting up in this, his 12th season in the WAFL.
Pickett's career began with the Falcons in 1996, one year after winning its first flag in 20 years.
Injury kept Pickett out of top-level football for five years after which he joined Peel Thunder where he became that club's his first Sandover Medal winner in 2002.
Subiaco coach, Chris Waterman, has nothing but admiration for Pickett.
"He's not getting a lot of time on the ball but a sharp Ali Pickett in a forward pocket can be a handful for any defender and he produced something special against East Fremantle (five goals in the previous round) in what was a very important game for us," Waterman said last week.
"He is a very unique player that's for sure; I can't compare him to anyone but for me his attitude is his best asset. It doesn't matter if you've played two or 200 hundred games, he treats everyone the same."
Lured to Subiaco in 2003, Pickett has enjoyed premiership success (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008), another Sandover Medal (2004), State representation, and the enduring affection of the WA football public.
Allistair Pickett's career
172 game for Subiaco
22 games for Peel Thunder
3 games for West Perth
3 games for Western Australia
2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 premierships (Subiaco)
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 06/07/2011 00:45